95. Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old
Edward H. Plumptre, 1821-91
A hymn on the healing ministry of Christ, written in 1864 for use in the Chapel of King’s College Hospital, London. Suitable for Hospital Day and other occasions.
Edward Hayes Plumptre, an English scholar and church man, was educated at King’s College, London, and at Oxford. He was minister in various churches (Anglican) and became Professor of New Testament Exegesis at King’s College. He wrote many excellent books, including the standard Life of Bishop Ken, and several volumes of poems. He was appointed a member of the Old Testament Company of Revisers of the Bible. This hymn was included in the 2d edition of his Lazarus, and other Poems, from which it made its way into the hymnals.
MUSIC. ST. MATTHEW, a psalm tune, appeared in the 6th ed. (1708) of A Supplement to the New Version of Psalms, by Tate and Brady, where it was set, in two parts, treble and bass, to Psalm 33. In slightly altered form, it became one of the great hymn tunes but is more popular in England than in America.
For comments on William Croft, 1678-1727, an important name in English church music, see [Hymn 6].