The author of this song is Reginald Heber, he was born in England, on April 21, 1783. He entered Oxford University at the age 17. After his ordination, he went to an obscure little village church of Hodnet in western England for 16 years. He was known as a man of rare refinement and noble Christian character. He was a prolific writer, and contributed his poetry, essays, and hymns frequently to magazines.
Three years before he died he was sent to India to serve as the Bishop of Calcutta. This job included India, the Island of Ceylon and all of Australia. On April 3, 1826, just after preaching to a large outdoor crowd, he died suddenly, apparently of sun-stroke, between the humid climate and the pressure of his work, it destroyed his health. A year after his death, 57 of his most choice hymns was published by his widow and friends.
This hymn was written specifically for it use on Trinity Sunday, which is 8 weeks after Easter. The tune for this text has been named Nicaea, It was named after the Council of Nicaea held in Asia Minor in 325 A.D., when the doctrine of the Trinity was examined and held to be a true and essential doctrine of the Christian faith.
The tune was composed for these words by one of England’s leading church musicians of the nineteenth century, Dr. John Bacchus Dykes. John was born on March 10, 1823, and died on January 22, 1876. At the age 12 he became assistant organist at St. John’s Church in Hull, where his grandfather was vicar. John in addition to writing music, could also play organ, piano, violin, and horn. He composed more that 300 hymn tunes, and most of them are still used today.
The words for this song is based on:
Revelation 4:8—And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come.
These are the words that believers will proclaim in heaven one day.
Sources:
Information on Heber: Osbeck, K. W. 101 hymn stories. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1982), p. 94.
Information on Heber: Osbeck, K. W. Amazing Grace (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1990), p.271.
Pictures and information on Dykes, and Heber can be found at: Dave Hoist. The Cyber Hymnal (1996) Reginald Heber, and John Bacchus Dykes. www.cyberhymnal.com
Information on Heber can be found at: Douglas D. Anderson. The Hymns And Carols of Christmas (Tigard, Oregon: 1996-2006) Reginald Heber. http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com
