Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, In solemn power come down!

Author: Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley, the son of Samuel Wesley, was born at Epworth, Dec. 18, 1707. He was educated at Westminster School and afterwards at Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated M.A. In 1735, he took Orders and immediately proceeded with his brother John to Georgia, both being employed as missionaries of the S.P.G. He returned to England in 1736. For many years he engaged with his brother in preaching the Gospel. He died March 29, 1788. To Charles Wesley has been justly assigned the appellation of the "Bard of Methodism." His prominence in hymn writing may be judged from the fact that in the "Wesleyan Hymn Book," 623 of the 770 hymns were written by him; and he published more than thirty poetical works, written either by himself alone,… Go to person page >

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. In solemn power&c. C. Wesley. [Adult Holy Baptism.] Written for the baptism of a female adult, and published in Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1749, vol. ii., No. 183, in 2 stanzas of 8 lines. (Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. v. p. 389). In 1868 it was included in the Sarum Hymnal, No. 233; the Society for Promoting Christian KnowledgeChurch Hymns, 1871, and one or two American collections. By the change of "her" to "his," as circumstances require, it can be used for both sexes. This plan is adopted in some hymn-books.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)