John Eustace Giles

Giles, John Eustace, was born at Dartmouth in 1805, and educated for the ministry at the Baptist College, Bristol. After preaching for a short time at Haverfordwest, he became, in 1830, pastor of the church in Salter's Hall, London. Leaving Baiter's Hall in 1836, he ministered successively at Leeds, Bristol, Sheffield, Bathmines (Dublin), and Clapham Common, London. He died at Clapham Common, June 24, 1875. His prose works include A Funeral Sermon on the Death of Robert Hall; Lectures on Socialism, &c. From childhood he composed hymns and poetical pieces. In 1834, at the request of the Baptist Missionary Committee, he composed a hymn in celebration of Negro emancipation,
and Nos. 9,16, & 24 in their Jubilee Collection, 1842.

The hymn by which he is best known is:—
Hast Thou said, exalted Jesus? Holy Baptism (Adult). It is a composition of special merit, and in English Baptist congregations is probably oftener sung on Baptismal occasions than any other hymn. It was written "during a serious illness, in 1830, and in anticipation of having to baptize several persons at Salter's Hall, London, on his recovery." (Singers and Songs, 1869, p. 482.) It was printed in 1830 in 6 stanzas of 6 lines. In 1858 it was given in the Baptist Psalms & Hymns, No. 705, with the omission of st. ii. The full original text is in the Baptist Hymnal, 1879, No. 639. It is also in several other collections. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.]

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)