Wrestling in agony, wrestling alone. Bp. E. H. Bickersteth. [Good Friday.] Concerning this "Story of the Cross" Bp. Bickersteth says in his note thereon in the 1890 edition of his Hymnal Companion: "These verses on the Passion of Jesus were written by the Editor (1880) on the same lines as ‘The Story of the Cross,' by the late Rev. Edward Monro [p. 1573, i.]. For the dramatic conception the Editor is indebted to Mr. Monro; and the measure and structure are the same as his. But the facts dwelt upon are different, and they reflect a different aspect of the Passion. They have been sung for the last ten years in a constantly increasing number of churches during Holy Week, and especially on Good Friday. The Editor has therefore ventured to include them in this Hymnal."
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)
Bickersteth, Edward Henry, D.D., son of Edward Bickersteth, Sr. born at Islington, Jan. 1825, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge (B.A. with honours, 1847; M.A., 1850). On taking Holy Orders in 1848, he became curate of Banningham, Norfolk, and then of Christ Church, Tunbridge Wells. His preferment to the Rectory of Hinton-Martell, in 1852, was followed by that of the Vicarage of Christ Church, Hampstead, 1855. In 1885 he became Dean of Gloucester, and the same year Bishop of Exeter. Bishop Bickersteth's works, chiefly poetical, are:—
(l) Poems, 1849; (2) Water from the Well-spring, 1852; (3) The Rock of Ages, 1858 ; (4) Commentary on the New Testament, 1864; (5) Yesterday, To-day, and For Ever, 1867; (6) The Spirit of Life, 1868;… Go to person page >
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