Reginald Heber was born on April 21, 1783 in Malpas, Cheshire, England. His father belonged to an old Yorkshire family, so his heritage was of culture and wealth. He was a very intelligent child and learned at an incredible pace. He studied the Bible and was reading it very well by age five.
After receiving his primary and elementary education Reginald enrolled in November 1800 at Brasenose College in Oxford, England. He was a brilliant student, winning awards for Latin poetry; he also won an award for “Carmen Secular,” an English poem on Palestine, and a prose essay on “The Sense Of Honour.”
In November 1804, Reginald was elected as a fellow at All Souls College, Oxford. He was ordained to the ministry in 1807 and became Vicar of the family estate of Hodnet, Shropshire, England.
In 1809, he married Amelia Shipley, daughter of the Dean of St. Asaph Cathedral, Dr. William Davies Shipley. He was made prebendary of St. Asaph Cathedral in 1812, appointed Bampton Lecture in 1815, preacher at Lincoln’s Inn in 1822 and Bishop of Calcutta, India in January 1823. Reginald refused this appointment to India twice, but finally gave in and accepted the challenge and appointment. Before he sailed for India, he received the Degree of Doctrine of Divinity from the University of Oxford.
After arriving in India, Bishop Heber poured his soul into his work there. He not only worked for his own diocese, but spread Christianity throughout the East. He toured the country, establishing and consecrating churches, founding schools, visiting the sick, and ministering wherever he was needed.
The change of climate from England to India never agreed with Reverend Heber and he suffered from the change of climate and it caused him several health problems. He began having apoplectic fits and convulsions and while seating in his bathtub, suffered a seizure and died on April 3, 1826 at age 43.
In Trichy, India, Bishop Heber College is named after him and is famous for its academics and sports. A statue of Bishop Heber, by Chantrey, was erected in Calcutta, India.
This hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy, was considered by Alfred Lord Tennyson as being Heber's best. He wrote many more hymns including, “From Greenland’s Icy Mountains,” but none have been sung as much as this one.
The music for this hymn was written by John Bacchus Dykes. John Dykes was born on March 10, 1823 in Hull, England. By age 10 he was assistant organist at St. John's Church where his Grandfather was Vicar.
John studied at Wakefield and St. Catherine’s College, Cambridge, England, earning a B A degree in classics in 1847. He co-founded the Cambridge University Musical Society. He was ordained as curate of Malton in 1847. For a short period he was canon of Durham Cathedral, them Precentor (1849-1862). In 1862 he became Vicar of St. Oswalds’ Durham until his death in 1876. He died in Sussex, England, at age 53.
Holy, Holy, Holy
Verse 1 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee; Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Verse 2 Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.
Verse 4 Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee, Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see; Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee, Perfect in power, in love, and purity.
Verse 5 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea; Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
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By Warren Shiver
