Bakewell, John

(1721-1819)

   Born in Brailsford, Derbyshire, he experienced a religious conversion at the age of 18, and in 1744 (the year of the first Methodist Conference) he began to preach and soon became an ardent evangelist. He moved to London shortly after, where he met John and Charles Wesley, Augustus Toplady, and other notable preachers. He spent many years of his life preaching for the Wesleyans, and he was buried in the Wesleyan Cemetery, City Road Chapel, London. Although he wrote only three hymns, the one that is probably in every hymnbook is "Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus." This worshipful and strongly doctrinal hymn text presents a vivid contrast between the shame and suffering of Christ's earthly life and the greatness of His eternal glorification, where the Redeemed join with the angles to sing Emmanuel's praise.

   Sources: Hymn Devotionals (http://our.homewithgod.com/ewerluvd/hymndevotionals/5_13.htm). The Cyber Hymnal (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/index.htm).