1810 - 1871 Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30 Author of "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come" in The Presbyterian Hymnal Alford, Henry, D.D., son of the Rev. Henry Alford, Rector of Aston Sandford, b. at 25 Alfred Place, Bedford Row, London, Oct. 7, 1810, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating in honours, in 1832. In 1833 he was ordained to the Curacy of Ampton. Subsequently he held the Vicarage of Wymeswold, 1835-1853,--the Incumbency of Quebec Chapel, London, 1853-1857; and the Deanery of Canterbury, 1857 to his death, which took. place at Canterbury, Jan. 12, 1871. In addition he held several important appointments, including that of a Fellow of Trinity, and the Hulsean Lectureship, 1841-2. His literary labours extended to every department of literature, but his noblest undertaking was his edition of the Greek Testament, the result of 20 years' labour. His hymnological and poetical works, given below, were numerous, and included the compiling of collections, the composition of original hymns, and translations from other languages. As a hymn-writer he added little to his literary reputation. The rhythm of his hymns is musical, but the poetry is neither striking, nor the thought original. They are evangelical in their teaching, but somewhat cold and conventional. They vary greatly in merit, the most popular being "Come, ye thankful people, come," "In token that thou shalt not fear," and "Forward be our watchword." His collections, the Psalms and Hymns of 1844, and the Year of Praise, 1867, have not achieved a marked success. His poetical and hymnological works include—
(1) Hymns in the Christian Observer and the Christian Guardian, 1830. (2) Poems and Poetical Fragments (no name), Cambridge, J. J. Deighton, 1833. (3) The School of the Heart, and other Poems, Cambridge, Pitt Press, 1835. (4) Hymns for the Sundays and Festivals throughout the Year, &c.,Lond., Longman ft Co., 1836. (5) Psalms and Hymns, adapted for the Sundays and Holidays throughout the year, &c, Lond., Rivington, 1844. (6) Poetical Works, 2 vols., Lond., Rivington, 1845. (7) Select Poetical Works, London, Rivington, 1851. (8) An American ed. of his Poems, Boston, Ticknor, Reed & Field, 1853(9) Passing away, and Life's Answer, poems in Macmillan's Magazine, 1863. (10) Evening Hexameters, in Good Words, 1864. (11) On Church Hymn Books, in the Contemporary Review, 1866. (12) Year of Praise, London, A. Strahan, 1867. (13) Poetical Works, 1868. (14) The Lord's Prayer, 1869. (15) Prose Hymns, 1844. (16) Abbot of Muchelnaye, 1841. (17) Hymns in British Magazine, 1832. (18) A translation of Cantemus cuncti, q.v.
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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Alford, Henry, p. 39, ii. The following additional hymns by Dean Alford are in common use:—
1. Herald in the wilderness. St. John Baptist. (1867.)
2. Let the Church of God rejoice. SS. Simon and Jude. (1844, but not in his Psalms & Hymns of that year.)
3. Not in anything we do. Sexagesima. (1867.)
4. O Thou at Whose divine command. Sexagesima. (1844.)
5. 0 why on death so bent? Lent. (1867.)
6. Of all the honours man may wear. St. Andrew's Day. (1867.)
7. Our year of grace is wearing to a close. Close of the Year. (1867.)
8. Saviour, Thy Father's promise send. Whit-sunday. (1844.)
9. Since we kept the Saviour's birth. 1st Sunday after Trinity. (1867.)
10. Thou that art the Father's Word. Epiphany. (1844.)
11. Thou who on that wondrous journey. Quinquagesima. (1867.)
12. Through Israel's coasts in times of old. 2nd Sunday after Epiphany. (1867.)
13. Thy blood, O Christ, hath made our peace. Circumcision . (1814.)
14. When in the Lord Jehovah's name. For Sunday Schools. (1844.)
All these hymns are in Dean Alford's Year of Praise, 1867, and the dates are those of their earliest publication, so far as we have been able to trace the same.
--Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)
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