1834 - 1911 Person Name: J. P. Hopps Author of "Father, lead me day by day" in Common Praise Hopps, John Page, was born in London, Nov. 6, 1834, and educated at the G. Baptist College, Leicester. Commencing public work in 1856, after a brief ministry at Hugglescote and Ibstock, in Leicestershire, he became colleague with George Dawson at the Church of the Saviour, Birmingham. From 1860 to 1876 he ministered to Unitarian congregations at Sheffield, Dukinfield, and Glasgow. Since 1876 he has preached in Leicester. Mr. Hopps has published many books and pamphlets, chiefly volumes of Sermons and Lectures. Most of his smaller works are controversial. In 1863 he commenced a monthly periodical called The Truthseeker. He has compiled the following hymnbooks for Congregational, Mission, or School purposes:—
(1) Hymns for Public Worship and the Home, 1858; (2) Hymns of Faith and Progress, c. 1865; (3) Hymns for Public Worship, 1873; (4) One hundred Hymns for Sunday Schools, 1873; (5) Hymns, Chants and Anthems for Public Worship, 1877; (6) The Children's Hymn Book, 1879; (7) The Young People's Book of Hymns, 1881; (8) and six different editions of Hymns for Special Services (for Sunday afternoon and evening gatherings in the Temperance Hall and Floral Hall, Leicester).
Mr. Hopps has himself written various hymns, some of considerable merit. Several have appeared in Congregational, Baptist, Unitarian and other collections. Among the best known are the following:—
1. Cold and cheerless, dark and drear. Winter.
2. Father, lead me day by day. Child's Prayer for Divine Guidance.
3. Father, let Thy kingdom come. God's Kingdom desired.
4. God bless the little children. Prayer for Children.
5. We praise Thee oft for hours of bliss. The blessings of Sorrow.
These hymns are from his Hymns, Chants, and Anthems, &c. 1877, and the Hymns for Special Services. The most popular is No. 2.
[Rev. W. R .Stevenson, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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