Joseph Francis Thrupp › Recommendations

Thrupp, Joseph. Francis, M.A., son of a solicitor, was born May 20,1827, and educated at Winchester School and Trinity College, Cambridge. At Winchester he gained the Heathcote and Duncan prizes, and the Queen's gold medal for an English poem, and was Head Prefect during his last year. He graduated in 1849 as 7th Wrangler, and 11th in the 1st class of the Classical Tripos. In 1850 he was elected a Fellow of his college. Taking Holy Orders in 1852, he was appointed Vicar of Barrington, Cambridge, in 1852, and Select Preacher before the University in 1865. He was also for some time a member of the Board of Theological Studies, and was associated with the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge some 20 years. He died at Surbiton, Sept. 24, 1867. His published works include An Introduction to the Study and the Use of the Psalms; A Revised Translation of the Song of Songs; Ancient Jerusalem; and Psalms and Hymns (Cambridge, Macmillan), 1853. This last contains prefaces, indices, with authors’ names, 93 psalms, 236 hymns, 16 doxologies. Of these 28 psalms and 18 hymns are by Mr. Thrupp. The best known of his hymns are, "Awhile in spirit, Lord, to Thee"; "Hail, that head, all torn and wounded"; "O Son of Man, Thyself once crossed." Mr. Thrupp's versions of individual psalms have not come into common use beyond his own collection. They are therein signed with his initials, "J. F.T.," but are not separately annotated in this Dictionary.

His hymns are mainly on the special Festivals of the Church, and, in addition to those annotated elsewhere are:—
1. Abide with us, 0 Saviour dear. Evening.
2. Eternal Word! Incarnate Light. Christ our All.
3. Eternal Word! Who ever wast. Annunciation.
4. How beauteous are their peaceful feet. Ordination.
5. Lord of majesty and might. School Festival.
6. Master, the Son of God art Thou. St. Bartholomew.
7. 0 Saviour of our earthly race. St. Luke.
8. 0 Thou, Whom upward to the sky. Ascension.
9. 0, where shall we deliverance seek. Lent.
10. Ope, Salem, ope thy temple gates. The Presentation.
11. Saviour of men, Almighty Lord. St. Mark.
12. Thou Who didst Thy brethren twain. Saints Simon and Jude.
13. Thou Whose voice upon the border. St. Andrew.
14. To David's Son hosannas sing. Palm Sunday.
15. Two and two, Thy servants, Lord. SS. Philip and James.
16. What, though the ground all good at first. Lent.
Mr. Thrupp contributed several articles to Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, and was one of the selected writers on the staff of the Speaker's Commentary.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)