There's a Hymn Writer in My Ancestry!

I am blessed with a mom who has made it her passion to research our family's geneology.  Through Ancestry.com, she actually became close with a cousin that she knew of, but never officially met.  Through that relationship they came upon another relative who had done extensive research into my mother's father's ancestry.

Well last week I found out some incredibly exciting news!  The writer of the hymn Onward Christian Soldiers is one of my ancestors!   This thrilled me beyond belief!

His name is Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould who lived from 1834-1924.   There is actually a biography about his life called Beyond the Christian Soldier by Samuel J. Rogal.  Wikepedia says of Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould, that he was of Lew Trenchard in Devon, England, where he was an Anglican priest, hagiographer, antiquarian, novelist, folk song collector and eclectic scholar. His bibliography consists of more than 1240 publications.

I intend to read this book!  lol.

Barnes & Noble says of Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould, when introducing a book he wrote called In the Roar of the Sea, that he had a "voracious and wide-ranging intellect" which led to the publication of over 1000 books and collections in various genres ranging from fiction to folklore.  In the Roar of the Sea is a novel that follows the travails of the Trevisa family as they struggle to navigate the aftermath of a tragedy."

Tim Challies wrote the following about the hymn Onward Christian Soldiers:

"Onward, Christian Soldiers” was written in 1865 with no intention of ever being published, especially in adult hymn books. Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould, its author, was at that time the curate of a parish in Yorkshire county in the north of England, and he recounts how and why he wrote it:

"It was written in a very simple fashion … Whitmonday is a great day for school festivals in Yorkshire, and one Whitmonday it was arranged that our school should join its forces with that of a neighboring village. I wanted the children to sing when marching from one village to the other, but couldn’t think of anything quite suitable, so I sat up at night resolved to write something myself. “Onward, Christian Soldiers” was the result. It was written in great haste, and I am afraid some of the rhymes are faulty. Certainly nothing has surprised me more than its great popularity."

Though it was never meant for publication, it was nevertheless found its way into a periodical later that year, and soon it became included in English hymnals around the world. Louis Benson suspects that it caught on in the United States, at least in part, because it tapped into the “soldier-spirit left in the hearts of young and old Americans by the four years of the Civil War” which had just ended."

Isn't that interesting!

I first began singing this hymn as a new Believer and found it so powerful.  Now it holds a very special place in my heart.  :-)

Onward Christian Soldiers

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus going on before.

Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;

Forward into battle see His banners go!

Refrain:

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;

On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!

Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;

Brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;

Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.

We are not divided, all one body we,

One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,

But the church of Jesus constant will remain.

Gates of hell can never ’gainst that church prevail;

We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,

Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.

Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,

This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Enjoy!

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