G. W. Briggs
Encyclopedia
George Wallace Briggs was an English hymn
writer and Anglican clergyman.
He was born in Nottingham
and educated at Loughborough Grammar School
and Emmanuel College
, Cambridge. He served as a padre
in the Royal Navy
(1902–1909) before becoming Vicar of St. Andrew's Church, Norwich and in 1918 became Rector of All Saints Church, Loughborough
. Between 1927 and 1934 he was Canon
of Leicester Cathedral
and from 1934 until his retirement in 1956 he served as Canon of Worcester Cathedral
.
His most famous hymn is "God Has Spoken by His Prophets" as set to the tune written for Ode to Joy
by Beethoven. He also wrote Loughborough Grammar School's school hymn "Our Father by whose servant(s)", which has also been adopted as a school hymn by other schools. The servant in LGS's case was Thomas Burton
, and the "Five Hundred Years Enduring" verse 2 (originally "Four Hundred Years Enduring") is unique to the Loughborough Endowed Schools. On top of this he also wrote the college hymn for Loughborough College of Technology, which would later become Loughborough University
.
He is also grandfather to Anne Atkins
, famed Radio talk-show host.
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
writer and Anglican clergyman.
He was born in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and educated at Loughborough Grammar School
Loughborough Grammar School
Loughborough Grammar School founded in 1495 by Thomas Burton, is an independent school for boys in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. It is a day school for over 1100 pupils and a boarding school for nearly 100. It is one of three schools known as the Loughborough Endowed Schools, along with...
and Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
, Cambridge. He served as a padre
Padre
Padre may refer to:* Partnership for Acid Drainage Remediation in Europe PADRE* An IDE for the Perl programming language, see Padre * A Military Chaplain* A member of the San Diego Padres baseball team...
in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
(1902–1909) before becoming Vicar of St. Andrew's Church, Norwich and in 1918 became Rector of All Saints Church, Loughborough
All Saints Church, Loughborough
All Saints Church, officially All Saints with Holy Trinity is the Church of England parish church of the town of Loughborough, Leicestershire within the Diocese of Leicester.- History :...
. Between 1927 and 1934 he was Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Leicester Cathedral
Leicester Cathedral
Leicester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Martin, Leicester is a Church of England cathedral in the English city of Leicester, and the seat of the Bishop of Leicester...
and from 1934 until his retirement in 1956 he served as Canon of Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
.
His most famous hymn is "God Has Spoken by His Prophets" as set to the tune written for Ode to Joy
Ode to Joy
"Ode to Joy" is an ode written in 1785 by the German poet, playwright and historian Friedrich Schiller, enthusiastically celebrating the brotherhood and unity of all mankind...
by Beethoven. He also wrote Loughborough Grammar School's school hymn "Our Father by whose servant(s)", which has also been adopted as a school hymn by other schools. The servant in LGS's case was Thomas Burton
Thomas Burton (merchant)
Thomas Burton was an English wool merchant who worked for the Company of the Staple at Calais. He left money in his will that was used to found the Loughborough Endowed Schools in Leicestershire, England.-References:...
, and the "Five Hundred Years Enduring" verse 2 (originally "Four Hundred Years Enduring") is unique to the Loughborough Endowed Schools. On top of this he also wrote the college hymn for Loughborough College of Technology, which would later become Loughborough University
Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...
.
He is also grandfather to Anne Atkins
Anne Atkins
Anne Atkins is a novelist, broadcaster and journalist. She is the author of three novels, The Lost Child, On Our Own, and A Fine and Private Place, and is a regular contributor to the radio feature Thought for the Day on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.-Early life:Anne Atkins was born in 1956 at...
, famed Radio talk-show host.
List of hymns
- A Call to the Free Nations
- A Hymn of Freedom
- Christ is the world's true Light
- Come, risen Lord, and deign to be our guest
- God Has Spoken by His Prophets
- Humbly I Adore Thee
- Lord of All Majesty and Might
- Our Father by Whose Servant(s)
- etc
External links
- http://www.hopepublishing.com/html/main.isx?sub=27&search=616