O Lord of life, breathe on us now

This morning this hymn has become my prayer. How wonderful and amazing our God has become the Spirit (comforter) as the very breath of life!

I was only able to find this obituary for the author.

Alfred Henry Vine was born in Radford, near Nottingham, son of John Vine a Methodist Minister in May 1845.

He was educated at King Edward’s School, Birmingham, and King’s College, Oxford. andnentered the Wesleyan ministry in 1867. Shortly after his ordination he came to Maidenhead for two years in September 1868, and it is extremely possible that one of his duties was to inter or to assist at the interment of Richard Portrey the young son of his Superintendent minister. In September 1878 he married Ellen Louisa Morgan in Abergevenny and together they were to have three daughters, Sibyl, Alice and Marjorie. Of his hymns the following are best known:

O Breath of God, breathe on us now (from The Doom of Saul).

O Great Lord Christ, my Saviour (From The Doom of Saul).

Thy clear eyes behold (From Wesleyan Young People’s Hymnal 1896.

Alfred Henry Vine died in West Ham on 27th April 1917. His wife Ellen Louisa Vine died in Bridge, Kent, in December 1931

Spirit to spirit He speaks, those of His sheep hear His voice. We follow steadfast and true, this distance to endure.

For only grace and mercy can prove in faithfulness

Be with me when no other friend
The myst’ry of my heart can share:
And be Thou known, when fears transcend.
By Thy best name of Comforter