He was a hymnologist born in East London, England, who studied at the City of London School and after taking influence from and learning from Daniel Sedgwick he went into the field of hymnology. Changing his religious beliefs he converted from the Baptist faith to Church of England in 1867.
In the 1880s he took inspiration from the four verses of “Adestes Fideles” that were written by Abbe Etienne Jean Francois Borderies and an unknown author and translated them. They were published in 1885 in the Altar Hymnal as “Ye Faithful, Approach Ye” which would later become the standard version of “O Come All Ye Faithful”.
Often contributing hymns to periodicals, he would also write Churchman’s Manual of Private and Family Devotion.
He died in 1917 aged 69.
Adeste, Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful) recordings
BBC Welsh Chorus
Nimbus NI5310 (CD: Celebration: Christmas Fanfares & Carols)
Conductor – John Hugh Thomas
Trumpets – Fanfare Trumpeters of the Welsh Guards
Organ -Huw Tregelles WilliamsBlack Dyke Mills Band
Black Dyke Mills Band
Chandos 4541 (CD: A Christmas Fantasy)
Choir – Huddersfield Choral Society
Conductor – Roy Newsome
Boston Pops
Philips 416 287 – 2 (CD: We Wish You a Merry Christmas)
Conductor – John Williams
DG 419 414-2 (CD: White Christmas)
Conductor – Arthur Fiedler
RCA 09026-61685-2 (CD: Pops Christmas Party)
Conductor – Arthur Fiedler
Sony SK 48232 (CD: Joy to the World)
Conductor – John Williams
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
Chicago Symphony Low Brass Ensemble
VOX 7501 (CD: Christmas with the Symphony Brass of Chicago)
Conductor – Barry Faldner
Kings College Choir, Cambridge
London 444 848 (CD: Noel – Christmas at Kings)
Conductor – Sir David Willcocks
Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
Naxos 8.990005 (CD: Joy to the World)
Conductor – Richard Hayman
Rochester Pops Orchestra
Koch CHD 1531 (CD: Joy to the World – Carols for Orchestra and Chorus)
St Louis Philharmonic Orchestra
Sonari records – 7 55724 00272 3 (CD: Christmas with the Philharmonic)
Conductor – Robert Hart Baker
Robert Shaw Chorale Recordings
RCA 6429 – 2 – RG (CD: A Festival of Carols)
Arrangers – Robert Shaw/Alice Parker
Roger Wagner Chorale recordings
Delos 3072 (CD: To Catch a Christmas Star)
Conductor – Roger Wagner
California State University Handbell Choir
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