Perronet, Edward

(1726-1792)

   The son of Vincent Perronet (1693-1785)- of Huguenot stock-an Anglican vicar of Shoreham, Sussex, Edward became one of Wesley's itinerant preachers around 1749. He pushed for separation from the Anglican Church and for the right to administer the sacraments. Not able to settle his difference with the Wesleys, he joined the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion, although he separated from her because of his violent outbursts aimed at the Anglican Church. He became minister of an independent chapel at Canterbury. He was buried in the south cloister of the Canterbury cathedral. His fame as a hymn-writer rests on one hymn -"All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name." It is often referred to as the "National Anthem of Christendom" and has been translated into almost every language where there are Christians. The hymn first appeared in the November 1779 issue of the Gospel Magazine, edited by Augustus Toplady (see entry), author of "Rock of Ages." His poetry publications: Select Passages of the Old and New Testament versified, 1756. The Mitre, a sacred poem, 1757. Small Collection of Hymns, 1782. Occasional Verses, moral and sacred, 1785.

   Sources: A Sacrifice of Praise: An Anthology of Christian Poetry in English from Caedmon to the Mid-Twentieth Century. James H. Trott, ed. Cumberland House Publishing, 1999. Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition 1.1. Oxford University Press, 1997. Edward Perronet, Hymn Writer, Death reported January 2, 1792 (http://chi.gospelcom.net/DAILYF/2003/01/daily-01-02-2003.shtml). 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 Countess of Huntingdon's Methodist Connexion (http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/oso/public/content/religion/0198263694/toc.htm l). The Cyber Hymnal (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/index.htm). The New Oxford Book of Christian Verse. Donald Davie, ed. Oxford University Press, 1981.