James Edmeston

Short Name: James Edmeston
Full Name: Edmeston, James, 1791-1867
Birth Year: 1791
Death Year: 1867

Edmeston, James, born Sept. 10, 1791. His maternal grandfather was the Rev. Samuel Brewer, who for 50 years was the pastor of an Independent congregation at Stepney. Educated as an architect and surveyor, in 1816 he entered upon his profession on his own account, and continued to practice it until his death on Jan. 7, 1867. The late Sir G. Gilbert Scott was his pupil. Although an Independent by descent he joined the Established Church at a comparatively early age, and subsequently held various offices, including that of churchwarden, in the Church of St. Barnabas, Homerton. His hymns number nearly 2000. The best known are “Lead us, Heavenly Father, lead us” and "Saviour, breathe an evening blessing." Many of his hymns were written for children, and from their simplicity are admirably adapted to the purpose. For many years he contributed hymns of various degrees of merit to the Evangelical Magazine, His published works are:—

(1) The Search, and other Poems, 1817. (2) Sacred Lyrics, 1820, a volume of 31 hymns and one poem. This was followed by a second Series, 1821, with 35; and a third Series, 1822, with 27 pieces respectively. (3) The Cottage Minstrel; or, Hymns for the Assistance of Cottagers in their Domestic Worship, 1821. This was published at the suggestion of a member of the Home Missionary Society, and contains fifty hymns. (4) One Hundred Hymns for Sunday Schools, and for Particular Occasions, 1821. (5) Missionary Hymns, 1822. (6) Patmos, a Fragment, and Other Poems, 1824. (7) The Woman of Shunam, and Other Poems, 1829. (8) Fifty Original Hymns, 1833. (9) Hymns for the Chamber of Sickness, 1844. (10) Closet Hymns and Poems, 1844. (11) Infant Breathings, being Hymns for the Young, 1846. (12) Sacred Poetry, 1847.

In addition to those of his hymns which have attained to an extensive circulation, as those named above, and are annotated in this work under their respective first lines, there are also the following in common use in Great Britain and America:—

1. Along my earthly way. Anxiety. In his Sacred Lyrics, third set, 1822, in 8 stanzas of 4 lines. It is given in several collections, but usually in an abbreviated form, and generally somewhat altered.
2. Dark river of death that is [art] flowing. Death Anticipated. Given in his Sacred Lyrics, 3rd set, 1822, p. 39, in 9 stanzas of 4 lines. It is usually given in an abbreviated form, and sometimes as, "Dark river of death that art flowing."
3. Come, sacred peace, delightful guest. Peace. Appeared in his Closet Hymns, &c, 1844, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines.
4. Eternal God, before thy throne, Three nations. National Fast.
5. For Thee we pray and wait. Second Advent.
6. God intrusts to all. Parable of the Talents. This is No. 13 of his Infant Breathings, 1846, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines. It is a simple application of the parable to the life of a child. It is widely used.
7. God is here; how sweet the sound. Omnipresence. Given as No. 9 in his Sacred Lyrics, 1st set, 1820, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines. In the Baptist Hymnal, 1879, No. 45. St. i.-iii. are from this text, and iv. and v. are from another source.
8. How sweet the light of Sabbath eve. Sunday Evening. No. 10 in theCottage Minstrel, 1821, slightly altered.
9. Is there a time when moments flow. Sunday Evening. No. 5 of his Sacred Lyrics, 1st set, 1820, in 7 stanzas of 4 lines.
10. Little travellers Zionward. Burial of Children. No. 25 of his Infant Breathings, &c, 1846, in 3 stanzas of 8 lines. In the Leeds Hymn Book, 1853, it begins with stanza ii., "Who are they whose little feet?"
11. May we, Lord, rejoicing say. National Thanksgiving. Dated 1849 by the author in Spurgeon's Our Own Hymnbook, No. 1008.
12. Music, bring thy sweetest treasures. Holy Trinity. Dated 1837 by the author in Spurgeon's Our Own Hymnbook, No. 167. It is in his Sacred Poetry, 1847.
13. Roll on, thou mighty ocean. Departure of Missionaries. In his Missionary Hymns, 1822, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines. It is in common use in America.
14. Sweet is the light of Sabbath eve. Sunday Evening. In 5 stanzas of 41., from the Cottage Minstrel, 1821, where it is given as No. 10, and entitled "The Cottager's Reflections upon the Sabbath Evening."
15. The light of Sabbath eve. Sunday Evening. In 5 stanzas of 4 lines, as No. 11 in the Cottage Minstrel, 1821, p. 14, and headed, "Solemn Questions for the Sabbath Evening."
16. Wake, harp of Zion, wake again. Missions to the Jews. Dated 1846 by the author in Spurgeon's Our Own Hymnbook. It is in his Sacred Poetry, 1847.
17. When shall the voice of singing? In his Missionary Hymns, 1822. It is in a few American collections.
18. When the worn spirit wants repose. Sunday. No. 18, of his Sacred Lyrics, 1st set, 1820, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines. It is somewhat popular, and is given in several collections in Great Britain and America, as the Baptist Psalms & Hymns, 1858-80; the Church Praise Book, N. Y., 1881, &c.
19. Why should I, in vain repining? Consolation. No. 14 in the 1st set of his Sacred Lyrics, 1820, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Edmeston, James, p. 321, ii. Other hymns are:—
1. O Thou Whose mercy guides my way. Resignation. In his Sacred Lyrics, 1st set, 1820, p. 24, in 3 stanzas of 4 lines, and again in his Hymns for the Chamber of Sickness, 1844.
2. Parting soul, the flood awaits thee. Death anticipated. In his Sacred Lyrics, 1st set, 1820, p. 18, in 3 stanza of 8 lines, and based upon the passage in the Pilgrim's Progress:—"Now I further saw that betwixt them and the gate was a river, but there was no bridge to go over, and the river was very deep."
3. 'Tis sweet upon our pilgrimage. Praise. In hi3 Closet Hymns and Poems, 1846, in 3 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed "An Ebenezer Raided."
4. Welcome, brethren, enter in. Reception of Church Officers. Miller says, in his Singers and Songs, 1869, p. 420:—"This is No. 1 of five hymns supplied by Mr. Edmeston, at the request of a friend, for insertion in a provincial hymn-book, on the subject of admitting members," but he does not give the name of the book, neither have we identified It. The hymn, as given in the New Congregational Hymn Book, 1859, No. 840, is in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, of which Millet says stanza iii. is by another hand.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Wikipedia Biography

James Edmeston (10 September 1791 – 7 January 1867) was an English architect and surveyor; he was also known as a prolific writer of church hymns. He was born in Wapping, Middlesex, England. His maternal grandfather was the Reverend Samuel Brewer, congregationalist pastor at Stepney Meeting House for 50 years. However, James was attracted to the Church of England and soon became an Anglican.

Texts by James Edmeston (68)sort descendingAsAuthority LanguagesInstances
Along my earthly wayJames Edmeston (Author)English20
And now another hour is pastJames Edmeston (Author)English14
Another day has passed alongJas. Edmeston (Author)English20
Ante ti, Señor, estamosJames Edmeston (Author)Spanish2
Apo, bendicionmot' itdemJames Edmeston (Author)Tagalog2
As oft we tread, with worn and weary feetJames Edmeston (Author)English3
As oft, with worn and weary feetJames Edmeston, 1791-1867 (Author)English42
Beneath a reef the ship was mooredJames Edmeston (Author)3
Breathe thoughts of pity over a brothers fallJames Edmeston (Author)4
Breite über meinem SchlummerJ. Edmeston (Author)German5
Change is written everywhereJames Edmeston (Author)1
慈愛天父,求引領我 (Cí'ài tiān fù, qiú yǐnlǐng wǒ)James Edmeston (Author)Chinese2
Cristo, guárdanos ahoraJames Edmeston, 1791-1867 (Author)Spanish6
Cristo, ya la noche cierraJames Edmeston (Author)Spanish2
Day by day supplies of graceJames Edmeston (Author)2
Enthroned upon a hill of lightJames Edmeston (Author)2
Eternal Father, God of grace (Edmeston)James Edmeston (Author)8
Fixed upon God as on a rockJames Edmeston (Author)English2
Fountain of grace, rich, full, and freeJames Edmeston (Author)English59
Frelser, du din Fred nedsendeJames Edmeston (Author)2
Geuss stillen AbendfriedenJames Edmeston (Author)German2
God intrusts to all talents few or manyJames Edmeston (Author)English18
God is here, how sweet the soundJames Edmeston (Author)2
Guter Hirte, höre mein FlehenJames Edmeston (Author)German2
Heavenly Spirit, may each heartJames Edmeston (Author)9
How sweet the light of Sabbath eveJames Edmeston (Author)17
How sweet to hail the early dawnEdmeston (Author)3
Iesu i keia ahiahiJames Edmeston, 1791-1867 (Author)Hawaiian3
In the wide waste of waterJames Edmeston (Author)5
Is there a time when moments flowJames Edmeston (Author)English14
Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us, Over the world's tempestuous seaJames Edmeston (Author)English285
Little travelers Zionward, each one entering into restJames Edmeston (Author)English37
Little travelers heavenward, We are journeying into restJames Edmeston (Author)English3
Music, bring thy sweetest treasuresJames Edmeston (Author)English6
Music of the boughJames Edmeston (Author)2
Nin, ho Patro, pilotaduJames Edmeston (Author)2
O Thou whose mercy guides my wayEdmeston (Author)English58
Parting soul, the floods await theeJames Edmeston (Author)15
ربنا هبنا مساء نعمة قبل المنامJames Edmeston (Author)Arabic1
Roll on, thou mighty ocean! And as thy billows flowJames Edmeston (Author)English124
Savior, again to Thy dear name we raise (Ellerton)J. Edmeston (Author)English1
Savior, while thy servants meetJames Edmeston (Author)4
Savior, breathe an evening blessingJames Edmeston (Author)English689
സ്വർ പിതാവേ നീ നയിക്ക (Svar pitāvē nī nayikka)James Edmeston (Author)Malayalam2
Sweet is the fading light of eveJames Edmeston (Author)1
Sweet is the light of Sabbath eveJames Edmeston (Author)English58
Swords of fire around us playJames Edmeston (Author)English2
The light of Sabbath eve Is fading fast awayJames Edmeston (Author)English31
The rose bud yet unblown may lieEdmeston (Author)6
The sun that lights the world shall fadeJames Edmeston (Author)13
The time how lovely and how still!Edmeston (Author)2
There's a refuge of peace from the tempestsJames Edmeston (Author)5
Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord we loveEdmeston (Author)English1
Though destruction walk around usJames Edmeston (Author)2
'Tis but one familyJames Edmeston (Author)2
Wake, harp of Zion, wake againJames Edmeston (Author)English8
Was it not a dreadful deathJames Edmeston (Author)2
When I Iook around and seeJames Edmeston (Author)2
When many a tempest blewJames Edmeston (Author)7
When rocks and when shallows beset usJames Edmeston (Author)4
When shall the voice of singingJames Edmeston (Author)English175
When the Savior said that childrenJames Edmeston (Author)2
When the worn spirit wants reposeJames Edmeston (1791-1867) (Author)English88
Where can I go from thee!Edmeston (Author)1
While through another rolling yearJames Edmeston (Author)6
Who are they whose little feetJames Edmeston (Author)3
Who would not love the SaviorJames Edmeston (Author)4
Why should I, in vain repiningJames Edmeston (Author)English6

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