Person Results

Switch back to the old search page.Advanced Search

Showing 81 - 90 of 121Results Per Page: 10 20 50

Benjamin Francis

1734 - 1799 Hymnal Number: 596 Author of "In loud [sweet] exalted strains" in Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship Francis, Benjamin , M.A., was born in Wales in 1734. He was baptized at the age of 15, and began to preach at 19. He studied at the Bristol Baptist College, and commenced his ministry at Sodbury. In 1757 he removed to Horsley (afterwards called Shortwood), in Gloucestershire. There he remained, through a happy and very successful ministry of 42 years, until his death in 1799. He was the author of many poetical compositions :— (1) Conflagration, a Poem in Four Parts, (1770); (2) Elegies on the Deaths of the Revs. George Whitefield , Caleb Evans, Robert Day, and Joshua Thomas; (3) The Association, a Poem (1790); (4) a Poetical Address to the Stockbridge Indians (5) two satirical pieces on the Baptismal controversy; The Salopian Zealot; and The Oracle, the former passing through several editions and being reprinted in America. Francis was the author of five hymns in Rippon's Selections, 1787, all of which are still in common use :— 1. Before Thy throne, eternal King . Meetings of Ministers: or Church Conferences. 2. Glory to the eternal King. Majesty of God. In Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory for Private, Family and Public Worship, 1872. 3. In tweet [loud] exalted strains . Opening of a Place of Worship . This was given in Rippon, No. 338, in 6 st. of 6 1. with the note:—“Sung on opening the Meeting House at Horsley, Gloucestershire, [his Chapel,] September 18, 1774; and also at the opening of the New Meeting House, at Downend, near Bristol, October 4, 1786."This hymn is abbreviated in the Baptist Hymnal, 1879, to 4 stanzas, and begins with st. iii. which is altered to "Come, King of glory, come." No. 1020 in Spurgeon's Our Own Hymnbook is the same arrangement of stanzas altered by Mr. Spurgeon to "Great King of Zion, now." In several American hymnals it reads: "Great King of glory, come." 4. My gracious Redeemer, I love. The love of Christ to Men. In various collections. 5. Praise the Saviour, all ye nations . Offertory. In Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory, 1872, No. 739, "With my substance I will honour," is a cento from this hymn. 6. Ye objects of sense and enjoyments of time . Death. A long hymn of 16 st. of 4 l. given in the new and improved edition of Rippon, 1837, No. 553, Pt. ii. with the heading, "The dying Christian bidding adieu to the world." This hymn had previously appeared in the Baptist Register, 1795. It was as a writer of Welsh hymns, however, that Francis excelled. In 1774 he published his Alleluia, neu Hymnau perthynol i Addoliad Cyhoeddus (Hymns pertaining to Public Worship) To this he contributed 103 hymns. A second volume appeared in 1786, to which he contributed 91 hymns, being a total of 194 in all [D. Sedgwick’s Manuscript]. Of these many are still in common use in Wales, the most popular being:— 1. Clod i'r bendigedig Oen—-a oddefodd. 2. Deffro 'nghalon, deffro 'nghan—-i ddyrchafu. 3. Gwyn fyd y dyn a gred yn Nuw. 4. Arglwydd grasol, clyw fy nghri—-a'm griddfanau. 5. Wele gadarn sylfaen Sion. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) See also in: Hymn Writers of the Church

John Fellows

? - 1785 Hymnal Number: 658 Author of "Great God, now condescend" in Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship Fellows, John. Date of birth unknown; d. 1785. He was the author of the following:— (1) Grace Triumphant, a Sacred Poem in nine books, 1770; (2) Bromsgrove Elegy, in blank verse, on the Death of Rev. G. Whitefield, 1771; (3) An Elegy on the Death of Dr. Gill, 1771; (4) Hymns on Believers' Baptism, Birmingham, 1773; (5) The Apostle Paul's Defence before Felix, in verse, 1775; (6) Hymns in a great variety of Metres, on the Perfection of the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 1776; (7) The History of the Holy Bible, attempted in easy verse, 4 vols., 1777; (8) Six Instructive Views of Believers' Baptism, a tract published both separately and as an Introduction to the 2nd edition of his “Hymns on Believers' Baptism" 1777; (9) A Fair and Impartial Enquiry into the Rise, &c., of the Church of Rome, 1779; and also (10) "A Protestant Catechism." Considering how numerous were the writings of J. Fellows, it is remarkable how little is known of him. It is stated by Dr. Joseph Belcher, in Historical Sketches of Hymns (Philadelphia, 1859), that he was a poor shoemaker, a member of the Baptist denomination, and that he lived in Birmingham. The evidence for this is tolerably clear. That Fellows was a Baptist and not a Methodist, as Watt & Allibone say, is clear from his baptismal hymns. That be lived in or near Birmingham is likely from the fact that most of his books date from Birmingham, and are said to be printed for the author, though sold by G. Keith, Gracecburch Street, London. Also, to the 2nd edition of his Hymns on Believers' Baptism (1777) is prefixed a note of commendation, signed by eight Baptist ministers, who say they are personally acquainted with the author; and the first three names are those of the Baptist ministers at Birmingham, Coventry and Bromsgrove. From the records of the Baptist church formerly in Cannon Street, Birmingham, it appears that a John Fellows joined it early in 1780, and continued a member till his death on July 30, 1785. But one of J. Fellows's earlier pieces is entitled a Bromsgrove Elegy. Combining these facts we infer that Fellows first lived at Bromsgrove, and then, removing to Birmingham, joined the church in Cannon Street. His hymns on Baptism are 55 in number. 6 are in Rippon's Selection, 1787. Some of his hymns are in all Baptist hymn-books, from Rippon to modern collections. These include the disputed "Humble souls who seek salvation", the hymn on behalf of children, "Great God, now condescend"; and others, all of which are annotated under their respective first lines. In addition the following are in limited use:— 1. Dear Lord, and will Thy pardoning love Embrace, &c. Adult Baptism. No. 28 of his Hymns on Believers' Baptism, 1773, in 7 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed "The Believer constrained by the love of Christ to fol¬low Him in His Ordinance." In Rippon's Selection, 1787, it was reduced to 4 stanzas: and in the Baptist Hymnal, 1879, to 6, stanza vi. being omitted. It is also sometimes given as "0 Lord, and will Thy pardoning love, &c." 2. Descend, Celestial Dove. Invocation of the Holy Spirit at Holy Baptism. No. 55 of his Hymns on Believers' Baptism, 1773, in 6 stanzas of 8 lines. In Rippon's Selection, 1787, these were rearranged in 4 stanzas, and again in the American Baptist Hymn & Tune Book, 1871, to 3 stanzas. 3. Go, teach the nations and baptize. Holy Baptism. No. 454, in Rippon's Selection, 1787, in 3 stanzas of 3 lines. It is given in a few American collections. 4. Great God, we in Thy courts appear. Holy Baptism. No. 43 in his Hymns on Believers' Baptism, 1773, and Rippon's Selection, 1787, No. 452, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines. It sometimes begins with stanza iii., "In Thy assembly here we stand." 5. Jesus, Mighty King of [in] Zion. Holy Baptism; Christ the Guide. No. 29 of his Hymns on Believers' Baptism, 1773, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines and headed, "Believers buried with Christ in Baptism." Rippon, 1787, reduced it to 3 stanzas, and these have been repeated in later collections as the American Baptist Hymn & Tune Book, 1871, &c. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

John Taylor

1750 - 1826 Hymnal Number: 258 Author of "God of mercy, God of love [grace], Hear" in Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship Taylor, John, born July 30, 1750, was the son of Richard Taylor, of Norwich, and grandson of Dr. John Taylor (1694-1761, the eminent Hebrew scholar, who was for many years minister of the Octagon Chapel, Norwich, and afterwards Divinity tutor at the Warrington Academy. Dr. Taylor published A Collection of Tunes in Various Airs, one of the first collections of its kind, and his grandson was one of the most musical of Unitarian hymn-writers). Young Taylor, after serving his apprenticeship in his native place, was for two years in a banking house in London, at which time he was an occasional poetical contributor to the Morning Chronicle. In 1773 he returned to Norwich, where he spent the rest of his life, first as a manufacturer, and afterwards as a wool and yarn factor. For nearly fifty years he was a deacon at the Octagon Chapel. At the time of the French Revolution he joined in the support of The Cabinet, a periodical brought out by the Liberals of Norwich, in conjunction with Dr. Enfield, William Taylor, Miss Alderson (Mrs. Opie), and others, and, as a "poet of the olden time," he contributed five poems thereto. These, and other political songs and poems relating to family events, &c, together with 50 hymns, were collected in Hymns and Miscellaneous Poems, Reprinted for Private Distribution, 1863, with a Memoir taken from the Monthly Repository of Sept. 1826, by his son, Edward Taylor, then Gresham Professor of Music. An earlier and less complete edition, containing 43 hymns, he had himself caused to be printed by his sons, Richard and Arthur Taylor, London, 1818. He died June 23, 1826. Of his hymns the following 9 were contributed to Dr. Enfield's Selection of Hymns for Social Worship, Norwich, 1795:— 1. Far from mortal cares retreating. Divine Worship. 2. Father divine, before Thy view. Divine Providence. 3. Father of our feeble race. Christian Love. This begins in Horder's Congregational Hymns, 1884, and others, with st. ii., "Lord, what offering shall we bring?" 4. Glory be to God on high. Divine glories celebrated. The first stanza is by C. Wesley, and the rest are by Taylor. 5. God of mercy, God of love [grace], Hear our sad repentant song. Penitence. 6. 0 sing to the Lord a new song. Praise to the Supreme Ruler and Judge. 7. Praise to God, the great Creator. Praise to the Father. The hymn "Saints with pious zeal attending" in Hatfield's Church Hymns, &c.,N.Y., 1872, begins with line 4 of stanza i. of this hymn. 8. Raise your voice and joyful sing. Praise. 9. Rejoice, the Lord is King. Providence acknowledged in the Seasons. The first stanza and 11. 5 and 6 of all are by C. Wesley, and the rest are by Taylor. J. Taylor edited Hymns intended to be used at the Commencement of Social Worship, London, 1802. To that collection he contributed 10 hymns, including:— 10. At the portals of Thy house. Divine Worship. In a few American collections a cento from this hymn is given as, "Lord, before thy presence come." 11. Blessed Sabbath of our [the] Lord. Sunday. 12. 0 how delightful is the road. Divine Worship. 13. Supreme o'er all Jehovah reigns.. Divine Worship. All the foregoing, except No. 8, were re-published in the Norwich Collectionof 1814. That edition contained 33 of Taylor's hymns. To the 2nd ed., 1826, he added 9 more. To R. Aspland's Selection of Psalms and Hymns for Unitarian Worship, Hackney, 1810, he contributed 26 hymns, old and new, including :— 14. Like shadows gliding o'er the plain. Time and Eternity. 15. The Mighty God who rolls [rules] the spheres. God the Preserver of Man. These 15 are the best known of Taylor's hymns, and are largely found in Unitarian collections. See especially Dr. Martineau's Hymns, &c, of 1840, and of 1873. [Rev. Valentine D. Davis, B.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

William Drennan

1754 - 1820 Person Name: Drennan Hymnal Number: 620 Author of "To thee, let my [our] first offering [offerings] rise" in Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship Drennan, William, M.D., b. at Belfast, May 23, 1754, and educated at Glasgow, where he graduated M.A. in 1771, and M.D. 1778. He subsequently practised at Belfast. He died Feb. 5, 1820. In 1815 he published Fugitive Pieces in Prose and Verse, Belfast, 1815; and his Poems were collected and published with a Memoir by his sons in 1859. Of his poems six are grouped under the heading of "Religious Poems." Seven hymns, including five of these "Religious Poems," were contributed to Aspland's Unitarian Selection, 1810; but in the 1859 Poems and Memoir most of them are in a longer form. As most of these are still in common use amongst the Unitarians in Great Britain and America, we subjoin the list of first lines:— 1. All nature feels attractive power. Law of Love. 2. Bless’d who with generous pity glows. Charity. 3. Humanity! thou sent of God. Faith, Hope, Charity. 4. In this fair globe, with ocean bound. Love of God. 5. O sweeter than the fragrant flower. Being Good. 6. The heaven of heavens cannot contain. Divine Worship. 7. The husbandman goes forth afield. Fruits of Benevolence. [William T. Brooke] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Elizabeth Singer Rowe

1674 - 1737 Hymnal Number: 619 Author of "Great God, my early vows to thee" in Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship Rowe, Elizabeth, née Singer, daughter of Walter Singer, an Independent Minister, was born near Frome, Somersetshire, in 1674; married in 1710 to Thomas Rowe, the poet; and died in Feb., 1737. Her works include Friendship in Death; Letters Moral and Entertaining, and Devoute exercises of the Heart (which was revised and published by Dr. Watts). Her Miscellaneous Works in Prose and Verse, which included some of her husband's poems, together with her Hymns and Versions of Psalms, was published posthumously in 1739. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ======================= Rowe, Elizabeth, p. 925, i. From Mrs. Rowe's Miscellaneous Works, &c, 1739, the following hymns are taken:— 1. Begin the high celestial strain. Praise to God. 2. Lord, what is man that he should prove? The Love of God. 3. The glorious armies of the sky. Praise to God. 4. To Thee, O God, my prayer ascends. God our Joy. For full biographical details, see the Biog. Britannia, v., or, Supplement of the Gospel Magazine, 1770, --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Ottiwell Heginbotham

1744 - 1768 Hymnal Number: 234 Author of "Awake, awake, my sluggish soul" in Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship Heginbothom, Ottiwell, born in 1744, and died in 1768, was for a short time the Minister of a Nonconformist congregation at Sudbury, Suffolk. The political and religious disputes which agitated the congregation, in the origin of which he had no part, and which resulted in a secession and the erection of another chapel, so preyed upon his mind, and affected his health, that his pastorate terminated with his death within three years of his appointment. His earliest hymn, "When sickness shakes the languid corse [frame]," was printed in the Christian Magazine, Feb. 1763. In 1791 the Rev. John Mead Ray communicated several of Heginbothom's hymns to the Protestant Magazine; and in the same year, these and others to the number of 25, were published as:— Hymns by the late Rev. Ottiwell Heginbothom of Sudbury, Suffolk. Sudbury, Printed by J. Burket, mdccxciv. These 25 hymns were repeated in J. M Ray's Collection of Hymns from various authors in¬tended as a Supplement to Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns, 1799, and 12 in Collyer's Collection, 1812. In modern collections in Great Britain and America the following are in common use in addition to those annotated under their respective first lines:— 1. Blest Jesus, when my soaring thoughts. Jesus, most Precious. 2. Come, humble souls; ye mourners come. Good Hope through Grace. 3. Come saints and shout the Saviour's praise. The Second Advent. 4. Come, shout aloud the Father's grace. Praise to God the Father. 6. Father of mercies, God of love. God the Father. 6. God of our life! Thy various praise. New Year. 7. Great God, let all our [my] tuneful powers. New Year. 8. Hark, the loud trumpet of our God. National Fast. 9. Hark, 'tis your heavenly Father's call. A Prayer to be used by the Young. 10. I ask not [honour] wealth, nor pomp, nor power. Wisdom and Knowledge desired. 11. Now let my soul, eternal King. Praise of the Gospel. Sometimes given as "To Thee, my heart, eternal King." 12. See, mighty God, before Thy throne. Fifth of November; a National Hymn. 13. Sweet peace of Conscience, heavenly guest. A good Conscience. 14. To Thee, my Shepherd, and my Lord. The Good Shepherd. 15. Unhappy city, hadst thou known. Christ weeping over Jerusalem. From this the cento, "And can mine eyes without a tear?" is taken. 16. When sickness shakes the languid corse [frame]. Resignation. Printed in the Christian's Magazine, Feb. 1763, and again in Hymns, &c, 1794. 17. Yes, I will bless Thee, O my God. Praise of the Father. The text is often altered. The cento "My soul shall praise Thee, O my God," in the Unitarian Hymn land Tune] Book, &c, Boston, 1868, is from this hymn. Most of these hymns are in Collyer's Collection, 1812. There are also 8 in Hatfield's Church Hymn Book, N.Y., 1872, and 7 in the Songs for the Sanctuary, N.Y., 1865. [William T. Brooke] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology

Ralph Erskine

1685 - 1752 Hymnal Number: 463 Author of "When heaven does grant at certain times" in Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship Erskine, Ralph, was son of Henry Erskine who was Rector of Cornhill, Northumberland, before the Act of Uniformity in 1662, and after the Revolution of 1688 was Parish minister of Chirnside, Berwickshire. He was born at Moneylaws, Northumberland, March 15, 1685, his father being then in exile from Scotland for taking part in conventicles. He entered the University of Edinburgh in 1699, was licensed to preach in 1709, in 1711 ordained second minister of the Abbey Church, Dunfermline, and became first minister in 1716. Joining in 1737 with the "Four Brethren," who, protesting against the action of the General As¬sembly on Patronage, had been loosed from their charges by the Commission in 1733 and had formed themselves into a Presbytery at Gairney Bridge, near Kinross, Dec. 5, 1733, thus founding the Associate Church, he was with them and three others cited to, and de¬posed by, the General Assembly of 1740. In 1740 the majority of his congregation seceded with him and built him a church in Queen Anne Street, Dunfermline, in which he continued to minister till his death. He did not, however, cease to preach in his turn in the Abbey Church till after May, 1742. He died at Dunfermline, Nov. 6, 1752. His published works are included in his Sermons and other Practical Works (Glas. 1764-1765), the complete folio ed. in 2. vols. ed by John Newlands (his son-in-law), contains a short memoir, 141 sermons, and (1) Gospel Sonnets: or, Spiritual Songs . These Gospel Sonnets, of which the 2nd and complete ed. appeared in Edinburgh, 1726, and the 5th finally revised, in London, 1741, though homely, enjoyed great popularity, and did much good in Scotland in the last century. (2) A Paraphrase upon the Song of Solomon. In this, first published in Edinburgh, 1736, the "Song" is spiritualized at great length. (3) Scripture Songs. These are in 2 Books. The Old Testament Songs are (i.) 14 Songs from Genesis to Job; (ii.) Job's Hymns, 100; (iii.) The Song of Solomon, complete ; (iv.) 21 Songs from Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, and Jeremiah; (v.) Lamentations, complete; (vi.) 6 Songs from the Minor Prophets. The New Testament Songs are (i.) 17 Songs from the Gospels; (ii.) 24 Songs from the Epistles; (iii.) 16 Songs from the Revelation. Of these parts the 2nd (Glas., 1753), the 3rd (Glas., 1752), and the 5th (Glas., 1750), the Old Testament, were the first published separately. The remainder, published at Glasgow, in 1754 as Scripture Songs, in 3 Books, were undertaken by request of the Associate Synod, in 1748, but not being published before Erskine's death never came into Church use. Many are altered from Watts, and some from the Translations and Paraphrases of 1745. (4) Miscellaneous Poems. These include 3 English and 2 Latin Elegies, a poem on the Civil Magistrate and Religion, and 7 Epitaphs. Smoking Spiritualised is given at the end of the Gospel Sonnets. A number of pieces by Erskine were included, more or less altered, in the Moravian hymn-books. The only one found in a modern hymnal which is well known is annotated under, "Ah! mournful case, what can afford," and another not now in common use under “Aurora veils her rosy face." [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Thomas Jervis

1748 - 1833 Hymnal Number: 687 Author of "God, to correct a [the] guilty world" in Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship Jervis, Thomas, son of a Presbyterian Minister of the same name, was born at Ipswich in 1748, and educated for the Ministry at Hoxton. In 1770 he was appointed classical and mathematical tutor at the Exeter Academy. From 1772 to 1783 he was tutor to the sons of the Earl of Shelburne, at Bowood, where Dr. Priestley was librarian. In the latter year Jervis succeeded Dr. A. Rees at St. Thomas's Southwark, moving in 1796, after the death of Dr. Kippis, to the Princes' St. Chapel, Westminster. From 1808 to 1818 he was minister at the Mill Hill Chapel, Leeds. After his retirement he lived in the neighbourhood of London, and died there in 1833. Jervis was one of the four editors of A Collection of Hymns & Psalms for Public & Private Worship, London, 1795. He contributed 17 hymns to the 1st ed., and 4 to its Supplement, 1807. Of these several are found in later Unitarian collections in Great Britain and America, including:— 1. God to correct a guilty world. Divine Providence. 2. Great God, Thine attributes divine. Confidence in God. 3. Lord of the world's majestic frame. Praise a Duty. 4. Shall I forsake that heavenly Friend? Constancy desired. 5. Sweet is the friendly voice which [that] speaks. Peace to the Penitent. 6. Thou, Lord, in mercy wilt regard. Penitence. 7. With sacred joy we lift our eyes. Divine Worship. This is given in Laudes Domini, N.Y., 1884, as: "With joy we lift our eyes." These hymns all date from 1795, and the most popular are Nos. 4 and 6. [Rev. Valentine D. Davis, B.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Edward Godwin

Hymnal Number: 591 Author of "Welcome, thou well beloved of God" in Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship

Henry Moore

1732 - 1802 Hymnal Number: 178 Author of "Amidst a world of hopes and fears" in Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship Moore, Henry, 1732-1802. Son of a Presbyterian minister of the same name at Plymouth. Educated at Doddridge's Academy at Northampton, from 1757 to 1788 minister at Modbury, and then at Liskeard. Author of Lyrical and Miscellaneous Poems, published posthumously with a memoir by Dr. Aikin. Of his hymns, which are frequent in the books later than Kippis, the Dukinfield Collection, 1822, gives 5. 1. All earthly charms, however dear. The unfading beauty of holiness. 2. Amidst a world of hopes and fears. A prayer for guidance. 3. Assist us, Lord, to act, to be. Divine Help Solicited. 4. My God, thy boundless love I praise. The divine Love. 5. Soft are the fruitful showers that bring. A song of spring and New Life. 6. Supreme and universal light. Prayer for spiritual excellence. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)