Godfrey Thring

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Godfrey Thring (March 25, 1823–September 13, 1903), is an Anglican hymn writer.

1 Life
2 Service
3 Published works
4 References

[edit] Life

Godfrey Thring was born in Alford, Somerset, England in 1823. He was the son of the Rev. John Gale Dalton Thring and brother of Theodore Thring (1816-1891), Lord Henry Thring (1818–1907) (a noted jurist and Parliamentary Counsel to the Treasury), Edward Thring (headmaster of Uppingham School) and John Charles Thring (a master at Uppingham School and deviser of the Uppingham Rules), and two sisters[1]. The family is commemorated in Alford Church by carved choir seats in the chancel and two memorial windows. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and graduated in 1845 from Balliol College, Oxford with a BA. He was ordained in the Anglican Church. In 1858 his father united the benefices of Alford and Hornblotton by an Act of Parliament styled the "Thrings Estate Bill" and Godfrey became his father's curate. He built Hornblotton Rectory for Godfrey in 1867. Thring died in 1903 and was buried in Shamley Green, Surrey, England.

[edit] Service

Curate of Stratfield-Turgis 1846-1850
Curate of Strathfieldsaye 1850-1853
Unknown parishes 1853-1858
Rector of Alford with Hornblotton, Somerset 1867-1876
Prebendary of East Harptree, Wells Cathedral 1867 (Contempories include Ken and Plumptre)

The town of Lovington, Somerset's history gives us a glimpse into the character of Thring

But for the generosity of the Thring family a century ago the school would have gone short of books and materials for needlework and other necessities. The Rev Godfrey Thring worked constantly for the good of the children. He presented the school with a harmonium on which he could play his compositions and get the children to sing the hymns that he wrote.

[edit] Published works

Thring's poetry books include Hymns Congregational and Others, 1866; Hymns and Verses, 1866; Hymns and Sacred Lyrics, 1874, A Church of England Hymn-book Adapted to the Daily Services of the Church throughout the Year, 1880; and a revised Church of England Hymn Book in 1882.

He wrote many hymns including The radiant morn has passed away and Fierce raged the tempest o'er the deep. Although Matthew Bridges (1800-1894) wrote the original verses to Crown Him with Many Crowns, Thring added more verses. It is possible they met but there is no record of them having done so. Both men are usually listed as the writers.