I'm but a stranger here. T. R. Taylor. [Heaven the Home.] This hymn, written apparently during his last illness, was published in his Memoirs and Select Remains, by W. S. Matthews, 1836, in 4 stanzas of 8 lines, and headed "Heaven is my home. Air—4 Robin Adair.'" In 1853 it was included in the Leeds Hymn Book; and later in numerous collections in Great Britain and America, sometimes as "We are but strangers here." Original text in Baptist Psalms & Hymns, 1858 and 1880, with tempest for "tempests" in stanza ii., line 1.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Taylor, Thomas Rawson, son of the Rev. Thomas Taylor, some time Congregational Minister at Bradford, Yorkshire, was born at Ossett, near Wakefield, May 9, 1807, and educated at the Free School, Bradford, and the Leaf Square Academy, Manchester. From the age of 15 to 18 he was engaged, first in a merchant's, and then in a printer's office. Influenced by strong religious desires, he entered the Airedale Independent College at 18, to prepare for the Congregational ministry. His first and only charge was Howard Street Chapel, Sheffield. This he retained about six months, entering upon the charge in July 1830, and leaving it in the January following. For a short time he acted as classical tutor at Airedale College, but the failure of health whi… Go to person page >
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