John Rippon
Encyclopedia
John Rippon was an English Baptist
minister and in 1787 published an important hymnal, A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended to Be an Appendix to Dr. Watts’
Psalms and Hymns, commonly known as Rippon's Selection, which was very successful, and was reprinted 27 times in over 200,000 copies. Many hymns originally published in Rippon's Selection are preserved in the Sacred Harp
.
At the age of 17, Rippon attended Briston Baptist College in Bristol, England. After the death of John Gill
, he assumed Gill's pastorate, the Baptist meeting-house in Carter Lane, Tooley Street which moved in 1833 to the New Park Street Chapel
in London, from 1773 at the age of 20 until his death, a period of 63 years. He also edited the Baptist Annual Register for 12 years. He was considered the foremost authority on the hymns of Isaac Watts
. Rippon's church was later pastored by Charles Haddon Spurgeon before moving to the Metropolitan Tabernacle
at Elephant and Castle in Southwark
. Rippon's Selection of hymns were used by the congregation until 1866 when Spurgeon produced an update called "Our Own Hymn Book" which borrowed much from Rippon and Watts.
At the time of his death, he was working on a book commemorating those buried in London's Dissenter cemetery, Bunhill Fields
, where he himself was buried.
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister and in 1787 published an important hymnal, A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended to Be an Appendix to Dr. Watts’
Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts was an English hymnwriter, theologian and logician. A prolific and popular hymnwriter, he was recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody", credited with some 750 hymns...
Psalms and Hymns, commonly known as Rippon's Selection, which was very successful, and was reprinted 27 times in over 200,000 copies. Many hymns originally published in Rippon's Selection are preserved in the Sacred Harp
Sacred Harp
Sacred Harp singing is a tradition of sacred choral music that took root in the Southern region of the United States. It is part of the larger tradition of shape note music.- The music and its notation :...
.
At the age of 17, Rippon attended Briston Baptist College in Bristol, England. After the death of John Gill
John Gill (theologian)
John Gill was an English Baptist pastor, biblical scholar, and theologian who held to a firm Calvinistic soteriology. Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, he attended Kettering Grammar School where he mastered the Latin classics and learned Greek by age 11...
, he assumed Gill's pastorate, the Baptist meeting-house in Carter Lane, Tooley Street which moved in 1833 to the New Park Street Chapel
New Park Street Chapel
The New Park Street Chapel was a Reformed Baptist church in Southwark in London built in 1833. The fellowship began worshipping together in 1650. Its first pastor was William Rider, and many notable others have filled the position since, including Benjamin Keach, Dr. John Gill, Dr. John Rippon, and...
in London, from 1773 at the age of 20 until his death, a period of 63 years. He also edited the Baptist Annual Register for 12 years. He was considered the foremost authority on the hymns of Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts was an English hymnwriter, theologian and logician. A prolific and popular hymnwriter, he was recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody", credited with some 750 hymns...
. Rippon's church was later pastored by Charles Haddon Spurgeon before moving to the Metropolitan Tabernacle
Metropolitan Tabernacle
The Metropolitan Tabernacle is a large Reformed Baptist church in the Elephant and Castle in London. It was the largest non-conformist church edifice of its day in 1861. The Tabernacle Fellowship have been worshipping together since 1650, soon after the sailing of the Pilgrim Fathers...
at Elephant and Castle in Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
. Rippon's Selection of hymns were used by the congregation until 1866 when Spurgeon produced an update called "Our Own Hymn Book" which borrowed much from Rippon and Watts.
At the time of his death, he was working on a book commemorating those buried in London's Dissenter cemetery, Bunhill Fields
Bunhill Fields
Bunhill Fields is a cemetery in the London Borough of Islington, north of the City of London, and managed by the City of London Corporation. It is about 4 hectares in extent, although historically was much larger....
, where he himself was buried.