O Salvador Sofreu

Author: Cecil Frances Alexander

As a small girl, Cecil Frances Humphries (b. Redcross, County Wicklow, Ireland, 1818; Londonderry, Ireland, 1895) wrote poetry in her school's journal. In 1850 she married Rev. William Alexander, who later became the Anglican primate (chief bishop) of Ireland. She showed her concern for disadvantaged people by traveling many miles each day to visit the sick and the poor, providing food, warm clothes, and medical supplies. She and her sister also founded a school for the deaf. Alexander was strongly influenced by the Oxford Movement and by John Keble's Christian Year. Her first book of poetry, Verses for Seasons, was a "Christian Year" for children. She wrote hymns based on the Apostles' Creed, baptism, the Lord's Supper, the Ten Commandment… Go to person page >

Translator: William Anglin (1882-1965)

William Anglin (1882–1965) was born in Stockton-on-Tees, England, where he was successful as a steel mill manager until he felt God's call to missionary work. He arrived in Brazil in 1926 and worked primarily in the Zona da Mata region (MG, RJ, and ES), dedicating himself to evangelization, teaching children to read and write, and supporting other missionaries. He distinguished himself as a hymnologist, contributing 63 compositions to the hymnal Hinos e Cânticos and authoring the adaptation of A. E. Knight's History of Christianity. After health problems, he returned to England in 1960, declaring with emotion: "Brazil is my homeland." He died on September 7, 1965, leaving behind an important missionary and musical legacy. Go to person page >