William Walsham How

1823-1897

Born: December 13, 1823, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. Died: August 10, 1897, Leenane, County Mayo, Ireland.

Son of a solicitor, How attended Wadham College at Oxford. In 1846, he was ordained an Anglican minister. He served as curate at Kidderminster, then at Shrewsbury. He then became rector at Whittington, Shropshire, near the Welsh border. In 1879, he became suffragen Bishop of London. In 1889, he was appointed bishop of Wakefield, West Yorkshire. He was known for his work with the poor and with industrial workers. He also found time to write over 50 hymns, most of them during his stay in Whittington. His works include:

• Daily Family Prayers for Churchmen, 1854
• Psalms and Hymns (with T. B. Morrell), 1854

Hymns:

1. Behold a Little Child
2. Behold the Master Passeth By
3. For All the Saints
4. God’s Free Mercy Streameth
5. It Is a Thing Most Wonderful
6. Jesus, Name of Wondrous Love
7. Lord Jesus, When We Stand Afar
8. Lord, Thy Children Guide and Keep
9. O Jesu, Crucified for Man
10. O Jesus, Thou Art Standing
11. O One with God the Father
12. O Thou Through Suffering Perfect Made
13. O Word of God Incarnate
14. On Wings of Living Light
15. Soldiers of the Cross, Arise!
16. Summer Suns Are Glowing
17. This Day at Thy Creating Word
18. Thou Art the Christ, O Lord
19. We Give Thee but Thine Own
20. Who Is This So Weak and Helpless
21. Year is Swiftly Waning, The