John Samuel Bewley Monsell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rev. John Samuel Bewley Monsell (March 2, 1811) - (April 9, 1875) was a prolific Irish Anglican and poet.

Contents

[edit] Life

Son of Thomas Bewley Monsell, Archdeacon of Derry, he was born in St. Colum's. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin, receiving a BA in 1832 and an LL.D in 1856. He married Anne, daughter of Bolton Waller, of Shannon Grove and Castletown on 15 January 1835. Their eldest son Thomas died on the way to the Crimean War in 1855, aged 18, in a shipwreck off Italy; their eldest daughter Elizabeth Isabella died in Torquay at the age of 28 in 1861. Another daughter, Jane Diana, married Rev. C.W. Furse in 1859. Monsell himself died after being struck by falling masonry from the roof of St. Nicholas' church, Guildford, which was being renovated.

[edit] Service

  • Curacy of Templemore (Diocese of Derry) 1834-1836
  • Chaplain of Chapel of Ease (St. Augustine’s) 1836-1838
  • Rector of Ramoan (Diocese of Connor) 1838-1839
  • Chaplain of Magdalene College, Belfast 1843-1846
  • Rector of Dunaghy 1846-47
  • Chancellor of Connor 1847-53
  • Vicar of Egham, near Windsor 1853-70.
  • Rector of St. Nicholas’, Guildford and Chaplain to Queen Victoria 1870-75.

[edit] Published writings

Monsell was a prolific hymnist. He published eleven volumes of poems and about 300 hymns. His books include: Hymns and Miscellaneous Poems (1837), Parish Musings, of Devotional Poems (1850), Spiritual Songs for the Sundays and Holy Days Throughout the year (1859), Hymns of Love and Praise for the Christian Year (1863), Our New Vicar, (1867), Litany Hymns (1870)

His hymns include:

  • Fight the good fight with all thy might
  • Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
  • On our way rejoicing as we homeward move
  • Mighty Father! Blessed Son

[edit] References

Julian, John (June, 1907). A Dictionary of Hymnology. London: John Murray, 762-763. 

Bailey, Albert Edward (1950). The Gospel in Hymns. New York: Charles Scribner's sons, 365-367. 

Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Calvin College. New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1953. Retrieved on 2007-02-06.

St. Augustine's Church website. Chaplains of the Chapel of Ease 1783 -1870. Retrieved on 2007-02-06.