329. Word of Life, most pure, most strong
Jonathan F. Bahnmaier, 1774-1841
Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1829-78
One of the best and most useful hymns for foreign missions.
The original poem has six stanzas, our hymn comprising the last three, translated by Catherine Winkworth. The German text is found at [No. 551], the hymn there being a free translation by Percy Dearmer.
For comments on Catherine Winkworth see [Hymn 236].
Jonathan F. Bahnmaier was born at Oberstenfeld where his father, J. C. Bahnmaier, was town preacher. He received his education at Tübingen and became assistant, in 1798, to his father. Later he had an appointment as Professor of Education and Homiletics at Tübingen but resigned in 1819 to become dean and town preacher at Kirchheim-unter-Teck, a post he held until his death. Bahnmaier was greatly interested in education, missions, and Bible societies and was on the committee which compiled the Württemberg Gesangbuch, published after his death in 1842. One other of his hymns, “Jesu als du wiederkehrtest,” entitled, “Prayer after School,” has been translated into English.
MUSIC. MOZART is adapted from the “Kyrie” of the Twelfth Mass by the famous composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756-91.
For comments on Mozart see [Hymn 179].