Baring-Gould, Sabine

(1824-1924)

   The Rev. Baring-Gould was an historian, author, hymn writer, and collector of folk songs. He was an accomplished linguist and after attending schools in Germany and France and after graduating from Clare College, Cambridge, in 1856, he entered the ministry. He wrote over 100 books, including 30 novels and several hymns. His main publications: Book of Were-Wolves, 1865. Curious Myths of the Middle Ages, 1866, 1868. The Origin and Development of Religious Belief, 1869-1870 (2 volumes). Lives of the Saints, 1907 (16-volumes). The History of the Evangelical Revival, 1920. Two of his hymns are in most current hymn books: "Now the Day is Over," the child's evening hymn, to which he composed the popular tune Eudoxia, and the rousing hymn "Onward, Christian Soldiers." Some of his other poems: "Daily, Daily, Sing the Praises," "The Olive Tree."

   Sources: Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition 1.1. Oxford University Press, 1997. Poemhunter (www.poemhunter.com). Sabine Baring-Gould Biography and the folk songs of South-West England (www.btinternet. com/Baring-Gould, Sabinegreenjack). The Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry. 11th ed. The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry, Columbia University Press, 2005 (http://www.columbiagrangers.org). The Cyber Hymnal (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/ index.htm). The National Portrait Gallery (www.npg.org.uk). The Oxford Companion to English Literature. 6th edition. Margaret Drabble, ed. Oxford University Press, 2000.