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Cyril Taylor

1907 - 1991 Person Name: Cyril Taylor, 1907-1991 Composer of "SHELDONIAN" in Common Praise Cyril V. Taylor (b. Wigan, Lancashire, England, 1907; d. Petersfield, England, 1991) was a chorister at Magdalen College School, Oxford, and studied at Christ Church, Oxford, and Westcott House, Cambridge. Ordained a priest in the Church of England in 1932, he served the church as both pastor and musician. His positions included being a producer in the religious broadcasting department of the BBC (1939-1953), chaplain of the Royal School of Church Music (1953-1958), vicar of Cerne Abbas in Dorsetshire (1958-1969), and precentor of Salisbury Cathedral (1969-1975). He contributed twenty hymn tunes to the BBC Hymn Book (1951), which he edited, and other tunes to the Methodist Hymns and Psalms (1983). He also edited 100 Hymns for Today (1969) and More Hymns for Today (1980). Writer of the booklet Hymns for Today Discussed (1984), Taylor was chairman of the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland from 1975 to 1980. Bert Polman

Thomas Aquinas

1225 - 1274 Person Name: St Thomas Aquinas, 1227-1274 Author of "Thee we adore, O hidden Saviour, thee" in Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New Thomas of Aquino, confessor and doctor, commonly called The Angelical Doctor, “on account of," says Dom Gueranger, "the extraordinary gift of understanding wherewith God had blessed him," was born of noble parents, his father being Landulph, Count of Aquino, and his mother a rich Neapolitan lady, named Theodora. The exact date of his birth is not known, but most trustworthy authorities give it as 1227. At the age of five he was sent to the Benedictine monastery at Monte Cassino to receive his first training, which in the hands of a large-hearted and God-fearing man, resulted in so filling his mind with knowledge and his soul with God, that it is said the monks themselves would often approach by stealth to hear the words of piety and wisdom that fell from the lips of the precocious child when conversing with his companions. After remaining at Monte Cassino for seven years, engaged in study, St. Thomas, "the most saintly of the learned, and the most learned of the saints," returned to his family, in consequence of the sack of the abbey by the Imperial soldiers. From thence he was sent by his parents to the University of Naples then at the height of its prosperity, where, becoming intimate with the Fathers of the Dominican Order, and being struck, probably, by the devotedness and ability of the Dominican Professors in the University, he was induced to petition for admission into that order, though he was at that time not more than seventeen years of age. This step gave such umbrage to his mother that she caused him to be waylaid on the road to Paris (whither he was being hurried to escape from her), and to be kept for more than two years in prison, during which time his brothers, prompted by their mother, used all means, even the most infamous, to seduce him from religion. At last the Dominicans' influence with the Pope induced the latter to move the Emperor Frederick to order his release, when St. Thomas was at once hurried back to Naples by the delighted members of his order. He was afterwards sent to Rome, then to Paris, and thence to Cologne. At Cologne his studies were continued under the celebrated Albertus Magnus, with whom, in 1245, he was sent by the Dominican Chapter once more to Paris for study, under his direction, at the University. In 1248, when he had completed his three years' curriculum at Paris, St. Thomas was appointed, before he was twenty-three years of age, second professor and “magister studentium,” under Albertus, as regent, at the new Dominican school (on the model of that at Paris), which was established by the Dominicans in that year at Cologne. There he achieved in the schools a great reputation as a teacher, though he by no means confined himself to such work. He preached and wrote; his writings, even at that early age, were remarkable productions and gave promise of the depth and ability which mark his later productions. His sermons also at that time enabled him to attract large congregations into the Dominican church. In 1248 he was directed to take his degree at Paris; and though his modesty and dislike of honour and distinction made the proposal distasteful to him, he set out and begged his way thither; but it was not until October 23rd, 1257, that he took his degree. The interval was filled by such labours in writing, lecturing, and preaching, as to enable him by the time he became a doctor to exercise an influence over the men and ideas of his time which we at this time can scarcely realise. So much was this the case that Louis IX. insisted upon St. Thomas becoming a member of his Council of State, and referred every question that came up for deliberation to him the night before, that he might reflect on it in solitude. At this time he was only thirty-two years of age. In 1259 he was appointed, by the Dominican Chapter at Valenciennes, a member of a Commission, in company with Albertus Magnus and Pierre de Tarentaise, to establish order and uniformity in all schools of the Dominicans. In 1261 the Pope, Urban IV., immediately upon his election to the Pontifical throne, sent for St. Thomas to aid him in his project for uniting into one the Eastern and Western Churches. St. Thomas in that same year came to Rome, and was at once appointed by the General of his Order to a chair of theology in the Dominican College in that city, where he obtained a like reputation to that which he had secured already at Paris and Cologne. Pope Urban being anxious to reward his services offered him, first the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and then a Cardinal's hat, but he refused both. After lecturing, at the request of the Pope, with great success at Vitervo, Orvieto, Perugia, and Fondi, he was sent, in 1263, as "Definitor," in the name of the Roman Province, to the Dominican Chapter held in London. Two years later Clement IV., who succeeded Urban as Pope, appointed him, by bull, to the archbishopric of Naples, conferring on him at the same time the revenues of the convent of St. Peter ad Aram. But this appointment he also declined. In 1269 he was summoned to Paris—his last visit— to act as "Definitor" of the Roman Province at the General Chapter of his Order, and he remained there until 1271, when his superiors recalled him to Bologna. In 1272, after visit¬ing Rome on the way, he went to Naples to lecture at the University. His reception in that city was an ovation. All classes came out to welcome him, while the King, Charles I., as a mark of royal favour bestowed on him a pension. He remained at Naples until he was summoned, in 1274, by Pope Gregory X., by special bull, to attend the Second Council of Lyons, but whilst on the journey thither he was called to his rest. His death took place in the Benedictine Abbey of Fossa Nuova in the diocese of Terracina, on the 7th of March 1274, being barely forty-eight years of age. St. Thomas was a most voluminous writer, his principal work being the celebrated Summa Theologiae, which, although never completed, was accepted as such an authority as to be placed on a table in the council-chamber at the Council of Trent alongside of the Holy Scriptures and the Decrees of the Popes. But it is outside the province of this work to enlarge on his prose works. Though not a prolific writer of hymns, St. Thomas has contributed to the long list of Latin hymns some which have been in use in the services of the Church of Rome from his day to this. They are upon the subject of the Lord's Supper. The best known are:— Pange lingua gloriosi Corporis Mysterium; Adoro te devote latens Deitas; Sacris sollemniis juncta sint gaudia; Lauda Sion Salvatorem; and Verbum supernum prodiens. The 1st, 3rd, and 5th of these are found in the Roman Breviary, the 2nd, 4th, and 5th in Newman's Hymni Ecclesiae; the 4th in the Roman Missal; all of them appear in Daniel; the 2nd and 4th in Mone; and the 2nd, 4th, and 5th in Königsfeld. Of these hymns numerous translations have been made from time to time, and amongst the translators are found Caswall, Neale, Woodford, Morgan, and others. [Rev. Digby S. Wrangham, M.A.] -- Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

James Russell Woodford

1820 - 1885 Person Name: James Russell Woodford, 1820-1885 Translator of "Thee we adore, O hidden Saviour, thee" in Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New Woodford, James Russell, D.D., was born April 30, 1820, and educated at Merchant Taylors School, and Pembroke College, Cambridge, of which he was a scholar; B.A. Senior Optime, and 2nd class in the Classical Tripos. He was ordained in 1843, and became second Master in Bishop's College, Bristol; and Curate of St. John the Baptist, Broad Street, in that city. He became Incumbent of St. Saviour's, Coalpit Heath, 1845; of St. Mark's, Easton, Bristol, 1848; and Vicar of Kempsford, Gloucestershire, 1855. In 1868 he was preferred by the Crown to the important vicarage of Leeds on Dr. Atlay's appointment as Bishop of Hereford. He was several times Select Preacher at Cambridge. He was also Hon. Chaplain to the Queen (1867). In 1873 he was consecrated, in Westminster Abbey, Bishop of Ely. He died at Ely on Oct. 24, 1885. Bishop Woodford published Sermons, 1853; Lectures for Holy Week, 1853; Lectures on the Creed, 1853; Sermons, 1864; and Sermons, Charges, &c, at later dates. His Hymns arranged for the Sundays and Holy Days of the Church of England appeared in 1852 and 1855. He also joined H. W. Beadon, and Greville Phillimore in editing The Parish Hymn Book, 1863, and (enlarged) 1875. To these collections his original hymns, and his translations from the Latin, were contributed. The originals include:— 1. Lamb of God, for sinners slain. Passiontide. 1852. 2. Not by Thy mighty hand. Epiphany. 1863. 3. O come, and with the early morn. Easter. 1852. 4. Within the Father's house. Epiphany. 1863. Bishop Woodford's translations are annotated under their respective Latin first lines. They are good and popular, the best known being "Thee we adore, O hidden Saviour, Thee." -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

George Croly

1780 - 1860 Person Name: George Croly, 1780-1860 Author of "Spirit of God, descend upon my heart" in Common Praise Croly, George, LL.D., born in Dublin, Aug. 17, 1780, and educated at the Dublin University (M.A. 1804, LL.D. 1831). After taking Holy Orders, he laboured in Ireland till about 1810, when he took up his residence in London, and devoted himself to literature. In 1835 he succeeded to the united benefices of St. Stephen's, Walbrook, and St. Benet Sherehog, retaining the same till his death, which occurred suddenly in the public street, Holborn, Nov. 24, 1860. His prose publications, in addition to contributions to Blackwood's Magazine, were numerous, and dealt with biographical, historical, and scriptural subjects. His hymns were given in his— Psalms and Hymns for Public Worship. Written and compiled by the Rev. George Croly, LL.D. London Kendrick, 1854. This collection contained 25 psalms, 50 hymns, and 6 poems. Of these 10 psalms, 12 hymns, and the 6 poems bear Dr. Croly's initial. The following have come into common use mainly through Windle's Collection:— 1. Be still, be still, impatient soul. Patience. 2. Behold me, Lord, and if thou find. Lent. 3. Lift up your heads, ye gates of light. Ascension. 4. Lord, who hast sought us out, unsought. Public Worship. 5. Teach us, O Lord, this day. Sunday. 6. Thou, Lord of mercy and of might. Lent. All these date from 1854, with the exception of No. 6, which appeared in his Scenes from Scripture and other Poems, 1851. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Horatio Nelson

1823 - 1913 Person Name: Earl Nelson Adapter of "Draw Nigh to Thy Jerusalem" in Rejoice in the Lord Earl Nelson was born in 1823. He was educated at Eton, and Trinity College, Cambridge. He is a relative of England's greatest naval hero. An active layman, he has been of service to the Church in many of her religious and benevolent enterprises. In hymnology he has taken a prominent position; his own hymns are most creditable, and he has been foremost in compiling the Sarum Hymnal, a work of the best character. This hymnal was compiled in 1857, with the assistance of John Keble, at the request of the Bishop of Salisbury. Its first title was The Salisbury Hymn Book. Its popularity was very great. In 1868 it was revised and is now known as The Sarum Hymnal. Earl Nelson has also published a few other works, mostly of a devotional character. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872 Nelson, Horatio, 3rd Earl Nelson, son of Mr. Thomas Bolton, of Burnham, Norfolk (nephew of the celebrated Admiral Viscount Nelson, whose name he assumed on succeeding to the title as 2nd Earl); was born Aug. 7, 1823, and educated at Eton, and at Trinity College, Cambridge. He succeeded to the title Nov. 1, 1835. In 1857 he edited the Salisbury Hymn-Book. In this work he was assisted by J. Keble, who re-wrote some of the older hymns and translated others from the Latin. This collection was remodelled and published as the Sarum Hymnal in 1868. In the preparation of this work Earl Nelson was assisted by the Revs. J. R. Woodford (afterwards Bishop of Ely) and E. A. Dayman. In 1864 he published his Hymn for Saint’s Day, and other Hymns. In this appeared the hymn by which he is most widely known, “From all Thy saints in warfare, for all Thy saints at rest" (p. 398, ii.). He has also published A Form of Family Prayer, with Special Offices for the Seasons, 1852; and A Calendar of Lessons for Every Day in the Year, 1857. He was also an active member of the Home Reunion Society, and wrote extensively on the subject. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Jeremy Taylor

1613 - 1667 Author of "Draw Nigh to Thy Jerusalem" in Rejoice in the Lord Taylor, Jeremy, D.D. This poet of preachers was born of very humble parentage on both sides, at Cambridge, in August, 1613. His father was a barber. He must have had a good school as a boy. He entered Cams College, of his native city, as a "sizar" in 1626. His career at the university was a brilliant one. He was made fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, in 1632; and rector of Uppingham, Rutlandshire, in 1638, as is still proudly remembered there. He was inevitably "sequestered" by Parliament in 1642. Inexorable necessities of circumstance put him in prison. During the opening of the great Protectorate he kept a school in Wales along with William Nicholson, and acted as chaplain to the Earl of Carberry at Golden Grove, Carmarthenshire, one of the pilgrim spots of our country, because of this and of his imperishable book named after it. In 1658 he is found in Ireland. He preached at Lisburn and Portmore. He returned to London early in 1660, and signed the loyalist or royalist Declaration of the Nobility and Gentry, on April 24th, thirty-five days before the "Restoration." He was not overlooked, as so many faithful royalists were. He was consecrated bishop of Down and Connor in January, 1661; made a member of the Irish Privy Council in February; entrusted with the diocese of Dromore in March: and in the same year was chosen Vice-chancellor of the University of Dublin. He died at Lisburn, August 13th, 1667, and was interred in the choir of the cathedral of Dromore. Bishop Taylor's complete works have been repeatedly edited, e.g. by Henry Rogers, Pitman, Bishop Heber, Eden; and manifold Selections and single books, as his Holy Living and Holy Dying. Notwithstanding his rich and im¬perial intellect, and enthralling eloquence, and absolute command of words, Bishop Taylor holds only a very small place in the Antiphon of England. It has been admirably said by Dr. Rowland Williams, "Poetry differs from eloquence, as love differs from friendship" (Stray Thoughts, 1878). His attempts at verse are eloquence, not poetry, and even the eloquence hampered and shallowed. The present writer collected his entire poems and verse-translations in the Miscellanies of the Fuller Worthies' Library (1870). In the "Introduction" the reader will find a critical ac¬count of the various hymns; and also therein an account is furnished of a flagrant misap¬propriation of Bishop Taylor's Hymns by Samuel Speed in his Prison Piety, or Meditations divine and moral. Digested into poetical heads on mixt and various subjects (1677). The following is the original title page of the volume in which all the Festival Hymns, save one, first appeared:—> The Golden Grove, or a Manuall of Daily Prayers and Letanies Fitted to the dayes of the Week. Containing a short Summary of what is to be Believed, Practised, Denied. Also Festival Hymns According to the manner of "The Ancient Church." Composed for the Use of the Devout, especially of Younger Persons; By the Author of "The Great Exemplar." London: Printed by J. F. for R. Rayston, at the Angel in Ivie Lane, 1655. (12 mo.) A 2nd edition appeared in 1657 with the Author's name thusBy Jer. Taylor, D.D., Chaplain in Ordinary to his late Majesty—a courageous announcement in the circumstances. A 3rd edition seems to have disappeared. The 4th ed. appeared in 1659; and from it is derived the second Christmas Hymn, “Awake, my soul," which was not in either the 1st or 2nd ed. Heber, Pitman, and Eden overlooked this hymn. [Rev. A. B. Grosart, D.D., LL.D.] From Bishop Taylor's Golden Grove, 1655, the following hymns are in common use:-- 1. Full of mercy, full of love. Prayer for Charity. From the Golden Grove, p. 116, where it is given in 20 lines, and headed, "A Prayer for Charity." It was given in Bishop Heber's posthumousHymns, &c, 1827, p. 109, and thus came into later hymnbooks. 2. Lord, come away, why dost Thou stay. Advent. 3. Lord, let Thy flames of holy charity. Whitsunday. This begins with line 12 of his hymn in the Golden Grove, "On the Feast of Pentecost, or Whitsunday," p. 157. His Christmas Carol, "Where is this blessed Babe” and his Prayer, "My soul doth pant towards Thee," are also from the Golden Grove. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)