William H. Parker

Parker, William Henry, was born at New Basford, Nottingham, March 4th, 1845. Early in life he began to write verses, and having joined a General Baptist church and become interested in Sunday schools was led to compose hymns for use at anniversaries. Three of these were introduced by his pastor, the Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A., into The School Hymnal, 1880, and passed into The Children's Book of Praise, 1881, and other collections. In 1882 Mr. Parker published a small volume entitled, The Princess Alice and Other Poems. His hymns in common use are:—1. "Children know but little.” (God’s condescension to the Little Ones) 2. “Holy Spirit, hear us!” (Hymn to the Holy Ghost). 3. “Jesus, I so often need thee” (A Child’s Prayer to Christ). [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.]

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

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Parker, W. H., p. 1585, ii, The following additional hymns are in the Sunday School Hymnary, 1905.
1. Gaily come the hours of gladness. Summer. (1905.)
2. How sweet is the message which Jesus has sent. Christ's love to Children. (1892.)
3. I love to hear you tell. Boyhood of Jesus. (1901.)
4. I want to be a hero. Christian Courage. (1895.)
5. Just in the harbour sailing are we. Sailors. (1893.)
6. Tell me the stories of Jesus. Life of Christ. (1885.)
7. The world may beckon from every bide. Of Home. (1905.)
8. There are voices all around us. The Angels. (1881.)
9. Where the rushes bowed and quivered. God's Servants. (1902.)
10. Wilt thou "Show us the Father." God the Father. (1880.)
Mr. Parker's hymns were mostly first printed in the sheets used for Sunday School Anniversaries of the Chelsea Street Baptist Church, New Basford, Nottingham. The three hymns noted at p. 1585, ii., were written in March 1880. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)