153. O for a faith that will not shrink
Wm. Hiley Bathurst, 1796-1877
An excellent hymn on “The Power of Faith,” based on I John 5:4: “And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” It appeared in the author’s Psalms and Hymns for Public and Private Use, 1831.
William Hiley Bathurst graduated from Oxford in 1818. During 33 years of ministry at Barwick-in-Elmet, he endeared himself to his people by his “eminent piety, his great simplicity of character, his tender love, and his abundant generosity.” He was a shy and reserved man “and had the peculiarity of becoming utterly silent if one asked the most trivial question.” His father was Charles Bragge, a member of Parliament for Bristol. The son assumed the name of Bathurst on succeeding to the estate of his uncle, Earl Bathurst, at Lydney Park, Gloucester.
MUSIC. EVAN was originally a setting by Wm. H. Havergal for a poem by Burns, “O Thou dread power who reign’st above.” Lowell Mason took a part of the melody and arranged it, as here, for a psalm tune, publishing it in New Carmina Sacra, 1850, under the name “Eva.” It might be added that Havergal disapproved of the arrangement as a “sad estrangement.” In spite of this, Mason’s arrangement has remained popular.
Rev. W. H. Havergal, 1793-1870, graduated from Oxford and was ordained in the Church of England. He became the rector of a church, but due to a carriage accident which resulted in concussion of the brain and injury to his eyesight, he resigned his church and devoted himself to the study of church music. In this field, he made a significant contribution by his compositions and his efforts at purifying and elevating the music used in the church. His daughter, Frances Ridley Havergal (see [126]), wrote many hymns, six of which are found in the Hymnary.