H. W. Baker

H. W. Baker
Short Name: H. W. Baker
Full Name: Baker, H. W. (Henry Williams), 1821-1877
Birth Year: 1821
Death Year: 1877

Baker, Sir Henry Williams, Bart., eldest son of Admiral Sir Henry Loraine Baker, born in London, May 27, 1821, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated, B.A. 1844, M.A. 1847. Taking Holy Orders in 1844, he became, in 1851, Vicar of Monkland, Herefordshire. This benefice he held to his death, on Monday, Feb. 12, 1877. He succeeded to the Baronetcy in 1851. Sir Henry's name is intimately associated with hymnody. One of his earliest compositions was the very beautiful hymn, "Oh! what if we are Christ's," which he contributed to Murray's Hymnal for the Use of the English Church, 1852. His hymns, including metrical litanies and translations, number in the revised edition of Hymns Ancient & Modern, 33 in all. These were contributed at various times to Murray's Hymnal, Hymns Ancient & Modern and the London Mission Hymn Book, 1876-7. The last contains his three latest hymns. These are not included in Hymns Ancient & Modern. Of his hymns four only are in the highest strains of jubilation, another four are bright and cheerful, and the remainder are very tender, but exceedingly plaintive, sometimes even to sadness. Even those which at first seem bright and cheerful have an undertone of plaintiveness, and leave a dreamy sadness upon the spirit of the singer. Poetical figures, far-fetched illustrations, and difficult compound words, he entirely eschewed. In his simplicity of language, smoothness of rhythm, and earnestness of utterance, he reminds one forcibly of the saintly Lyte. In common with Lyte also, if a subject presented itself to his mind with striking contrasts of lights and shadows, he almost invariably sought shelter in the shadows. The last audible words which lingered on his dying lips were the third stanza of his exquisite rendering of the 23rd Psalm, "The King of Love, my Shepherd is:"—

Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His Shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me."

This tender sadness, brightened by a soft calm peace, was an epitome of his poetical life.
Sir Henry's labours as the Editor of Hymns Ancient & Modern were very arduous. The trial copy was distributed amongst a few friends in 1859; first ed. published 1861, and the Appendix, in 1868; the trial copy of the revised ed. was issued in 1874, and the publication followed in 1875. In addition he edited Hymns for the London Mission, 1874, and Hymns for Mission Services, n.d., c. 1876-7. He also published Daily Prayers for those who work hard; a Daily Text Book, &c. In Hymns Ancient & Modern there are also four tunes (33, 211, 254, 472) the melodies of which are by Sir Henry, and the harmonies by Dr. Monk. He died Feb. 12, 1877.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)


Texts by H. W. Baker (64)sort descendingAsAuthority LanguagesInstances
¡Alabad al Dios y Rey! Cante himnos nuestra greyH. W. Baker (Author)Spanish3
Almighty God, Whose only SonRev. Sir H. W. Baker (Author)English20
Angels we have heard on highHenry Williams Baker (Author)English2
Blest Trinity, from mortal sightHenry Williams Baker (Author)English13
Captains of the saintly bandSir H. W. Baker (Translator)English16
Come see the place where Jesus lay, And hear the angelic watchers sayHenry W. Baker (Alterer)English2
Dia vorto restasH. W. Baker (Author)Esperanto3
El rey de amor es mi pastor, Su amor es verdaderoHenry Williams Baker, 1821-1877 (Author)Spanish5
Father, who didst fashion meRev. Sir Henry W. Baker, 1821- (Translator)English4
From highest heaven the eternal Son, With God the Father ever OneHenry W. Baker (Author)English2
God made me for Himself, to serve Him hereHenry Williams Baker, 1821-1877 (Author)English8
God of God, and Light of lightHenry W. Baker (Author)English1
God, the Father, from thy throneSir Henry Williams Baker, Bart (Author)English4
God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit, Three in One, Spare us, Holy Trinity (Baker)Rev. Sir H. W. Baker (Author)English2
Good it is to keep the fastHenry W. Baker (Translator (from Latin))English3
Great God, who, hid from mortal sightHenry Williams Baker (Author)English5
Hodiaŭ ĝoju ĉies kor'H. W. Baker (Author)Esperanto2
How welcome was the callHenry Williams Baker (Author)English24
I am not worthy, holy LordHenry W. Baker (Author)English62
In prayer together let us fallRev. Sir Henry Williams Baker, 1821- (Alterer)English4
Jerusalem, my happy home, O how I long for theeH. W. Baker, died 1877 (Translator)English1
Jesus, grant me this, I prayHenry Williams Baker (Author)English21
Jesús en grande amorH. W. Baker (Author)Spanish2
Jesus, for the beacon lightH. W. Baker (Author)English3
Kun ama zorgo paŝtas minH. W. Baker (Author)Esperanto3
Lo the angels food is givenHenry Williams Baker (Author)English2
Lord Jesus, God and man, On this our festal dayHenry Williams Baker, 1821-77 (Author)English19
Lord Jesus, God and man, For love of man a childHenry Williams Baker (Author)English5
Lord, Thy word abideth, And our footsteps guidethRev. Sir H. W. Baker (Author)English166
மற்றோர் இராவும் நல் ஓய்வுமே (Maṟṟōr irāvum nal ōyvumē)H. W. Baker (Author)Tamil2
Mfalme wa upendo ndiyeH. W. Baker, 1821-1877 (Author)Swahili2
My Father, for another nightRev. Sir H. W. Baker (Author)English43
Now, my soul, thy voice upraising, Tell in sweet and mournful strainHenry Williams Baker (Author)English27
O Christ, Redeemer of our raceHenry Williams Baker (Author)English7
O God of love, O King of peaceHenry Williams Baker (Author)English214
O Holy Ghost thy people blessRev. Sir H. W. Baker (Author)English20
O Holy Spirit, come to blessH. W. Baker (1821-1877) (Author)3
O perfect life of loveHenry W. Baker (Author)English73
O praise our God today, His constant mercy blessRev. Sir. H. Baker (Author)English56
Sing praise to the Lord! Praise Him in the heightsHenry W. Baker (Author)English58
O sacred head, now wounded, With grief and shame weighed downHenry Williams Baker 1821-77 (Translator)English3
O sacred head surrounded By crown of piercing thornBaker (Translator)English63
One Father, who's giving me lifeHenry Williams Baker, 1821-1877 (Translator)1
O what, if we are Christ'sHenry Williams Baker (Author)English102
ඔබගේ වදන (Obagē vadana)H. W. Baker (Author)Sinhala2
Of the Father's heart begottenHenry Williams Baker, 1821-1877 (Translator)English1
Of the Father's love begotten, ere the worlds began to beHenry W. Baker (Translator)English107
Oh, Dios de Amor, oh Rey de PazHenry W. Baker (Author)Spanish2
On this day, the first of daysHenry W. Baker, 1821-1877 (Translator)English67
Out of the deep I call To Thee, O Lord, to TheeRev. Sir Henry Williams Baker (1821-1877) (Author)English47
Praise, my soul, the King of heavenRev. Sir Henry Williams Baker (1821-1877) (Author)English14
Praise, O praise our God and KingRev. Sir H. W. Baker (Author)English99
Redeemed, restored, forgivenHenry W. Baker, 1821-77 (Author)English12
Rejoice today with one accordHenry Williams Baker, 1821-77 (Author)English50
Remember, Lord, thy works of oldRev. Henry W. Baker (Author)English2
Shall we not love thee, mother dearSir H. W. Baker, died 1877 (Author)English7
Sweet flowerets of the martyr bandHenry W. Baker (Translator (from Latin))English4
The King of love my Shepherd isHenry W. Baker (Author)English617
There is a blessed home Beyond this land of woeHenry Williams Baker (Author)English147
'Tis done, that new and heavenly birthHenry W. Baker (Author)3
We love the place, O GodRev. Sir H. W. Baker (Author (vs. 5 - 7))English50
We love Thy Church, O LordHenry Williams Baker, 1821-1877 (Author)English1
What our Father does is wellHenry W. Baker (Translator)English24
Zion's daughter, weep no moreHenry Williams Baker (Author)English9

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