Shine upon us, Lord, through the written Word, to display Your very self;

As we are gazing on You, we may learn the wonders of Your grace.

Breathe upon us, Lord, wrought in us the living flame of Your Spirit;

So that we all with one accord, our lips may confess Your precious name.

Speak for us, O Lord, in all we say of You;

Let all our speaking be, according to Your Word.

Live within us, Lord, Your mind and will be ours;

You are adored, beloved and served with all our powers.

Because of the merciful compassions of our God, in which the rising sun will visit us from in high,

To shine upon those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace

Luke 1:78-79

John Ellerton was born in London, England, of a strong evangelical family. After graduating from Cambridge University, he became associated with the Church of England’s liberal side because of a great concern for the social problems of his day. Ellerton along with William How were looked upon as the leaders of the liberal faction of the Anglican Church. He was however able to keep friendly relations with the evangelicals as well as appreciate the best in everyone.

John Ellerton ministered in the poor and hidden parishes throughout England. He was loved and respected by his parishioners as someone of noble character and having a broad knowledge of culture. His people admired him for being an authority of hymnody as well. During his time, no hymn was ever published unless he approved it. Matthew Arnold, renowned theologian of that era, considered him to be “the greatest of the living hymn writers. ”

Ellerton composed around eight-four hymns including ten Latin translations. Many of these hymns are used today. He chose never to copyright his hymns saying that, “ if his hymns were counted worthy to contribute as Christ’s praise in the congregation, one ought to feel very thankful and humble. ”

Besides this hymn (902), he wrote another popular one titled, “Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name” which was used as a hymn to close the service of worship. This is in keeping with the Lord’s meeting with his disciples just before his crucifixion: “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out... ”.

“ Savior Again to Thy Dear Name” was written in 1866 for a choral festival in Cheshire, England, by one of England’s leading hymnodists of the day and is considered one of the finest closing hymns. It was included in the Anglican Church hymnal, “Hymns Ancient and Modern, ” in 1868. Its tune was composed by Edward John Hopkins who was born in London on June 30, 1818. He was one of the best musicians of his time. He composed the tune for Ellerton’s text in 1869.

Ellerton was born in Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England, to George Ellerton, the head of an Evangelical family. He was educated at King William's College on the Isle of Man, and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he came under the influence of Frederick D. Maurice.

Taking orders in 1850, he was Curate of Easebourne, Sussex. In 1852, he was in Brighton, and Lecturer of St. Peter's, Brighton.

In 1860, he became chaplain for Lord Crewe and vicar of Crewe Green in Cheshire, about thirty miles southeast of Liverpool. He became chairman of the education committee at the Mechanics Institute for the local Railway Company. Reorganizing the Institute, he made it one of the most successful in England. He taught classes in English and Bible History. He also organized one of the first Choral Associations of the Midlands.

In 1872 he became Rector of Hinstock, Shropshire. In 1876, he was transferred to Barnes, (then in Surrey), a western suburb of London. The work among a large population broke him down and he had to go abroad for a year, serving as Chaplain at Pegli in Italy from 1884-1885. After returning, he took a smaller parish in White Roding in 1886, his last. During his final illness, he was given the honorary title of Canon of St. Albans Cathedral

He was best known as a hymnologist, editor, hymn-writer and translator. He published Hymns for Schools and Bible Classes in Brighton in 1859. Co-editor with Bishop How and others of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) Church Hymns, 1871. His Notes and Illustrations of Church Hymns were published in the folio edition of 1881. Ellerton wrote or translated eighty-six or more hymns.- Wikipedia

Amen!

I am so glad to have brothers and sisters in the church life! You know why? - few of them recently "discovered" this beautiful hymn for me! I went much into the depths of it by researching the Bible to support every sentence with verses. This is wonderful experience of studying the hymns and a real exercise I enjoy! Oh, after doing this the hymn becomes so sweet and personal and the riches really flow from every word! This particular hymn caught me with its brightness, lightness and so beautiful a tune. Oh, He is working on us by shining, breathing, speaking and living in us so that all of His Person and possessions as the Life-giving Spirit could be wrought into us for our faithful service to hasten His return. Lord, grant us full days of the growth in life and may each day count in your economy!