Jesu, when Thou once returnedst

Author: J. F. Bahnmaier

Bahnmaier, Jonathan Friedrich, son of J. G. Bahnmaier, Town Preacher at Oberstenfeld, near Bottwar, Württemberg, was born at Oberstenfeld, July 12, 1774. After completing his studies at Tübingen, his first appointment was, in 1798, as assistant to his father. He became Diaconus at Marbach on the Neckar in 1806, and at Ludwigsburg in 1810, where he was for a time the head of a young ladies' school. In 1815 he was appointed Professor of Education and Homiletics at Tübingen, but in the troublous times that followed had to resign his post. He received in 1819 the appointment of Decan and Town Preacher at Kirchheim-unter-Teck, where he continued as a faithful, unwearied, and successful worker for 21 years. He was distinguished as a preacher,… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

i. Jesu als du wiederkehrtest. [Schools.] First published in his Christliche Blätter aus Tübingen, pts. 9-12 for 1819, p. 85, in 2 stanzas of 8 lines, entitled "Prayer after School;" as one of 7 metrical prayers for Children, and for the School and House. Included as No. 2947 in Knapp's Evanglischer Lieder-Schatz, 1837 (1865, No. 2614), and No. 513 in the Württemberg Gesang-Buch, 1842. The only translation in common use is:
Jesu, when Thou once returnest. In full by Miss Winkworth in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 178.

-- Excerpt from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)