Monsell, John Samuel Bewley

(1811-1875)

   Irish clergyman, the son of Thomas Bewley Monsell, Archdeacon of Londonderry, was born at St. Colombs, Londonderry, and graduated doctor of laws from Trinity College, Dublin, in 1856. He was ordained in 1834 and served as a minister in Ireland and in England. He was Rector of St. Nicholas, Guildford, and died after falling from the roof of his church while repairing it. He was a prolific hymnwriter; several of his books ran to many editions and his hymns have been included in many hymnbooks. Some of his 11 volumes of hymns and poetry publications: Hymns and Miscellaneous Poems, 1837. Parish Musings, or Devotional Poems, 1850. Hymns of Love and Praise for the Church's Year, 1863. The Passing Bell, and Other Poems, 1869. Nursery Carols, 1873. The Parish Hymnal, 1873. Simon the Cyrenian, and Other Poems, 1876. Some of his hymn/poems: "Daughter of Christian England" (a poem on Miss Nightingale's mission to Scutari), "Fight the Good Fight with All Thy Might," "O Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness," "Rest of the Weary," "Sing to the Lord of Harvest."

   Sources: A Treasury of Poems for Worship and Devotion. Charles L. Wallis, ed. Harper, 1959. Biography of J.S.B. Monsell (http://www.stempublishing.com/hymns/authors/monsell). Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition, 1.1. 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).