William T. Brooke

Brooke, William Thomas, born Jan. 9, 1848, and educated at the City of London School. After entering commercial life he felt a warm interest in hymnology, and from his intimate acquaintance with Daniel Sedgwick he gradually learnt all that Sedgwick had to teach. His hymns and translations were contributed to religious newspapers and periodicals. Many are still unpublished, but hymns of his will be found in the Monthly Packet, 1872; the Methodist Sunday School Hymnal, 1879; the Methodist Hymns for Missions, 1882; his own Churchman's Manual of Privte and Family Devotion, 1882; and in the Altar Hymnal, 1884. Following in Sedgwick's steps, he has authenticated the texts and authorship for several compilations (e.g.) Methodist Sunday School Hymn Book,1879; the Congregational Book of Praise for Children, 1881, and others. Originally a Baptist, he became in 1867 a member of the Church of England.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)