John Darwall (1731–1789) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

clergyman Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

and

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' d ...

odist. Born in the village of Haughton in

Staffordshire Staffordshire (; postal abbreviation ''Staffs''.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It borders Cheshire to the north-west, Derbyshire and Leicestershire to the east, ...

, Darwall was educated at

Manchester Grammar School The Manchester Grammar School (MGS) is a highly Selective school, selective Private_schools_in_the_United_Kingdom, private day school for boys aged 7-18 in Manchester, England, which was founded in 1515 by Hugh Oldham (then Bishop of Exeter). ...

and at

Brasenose College, Oxford Brasenose College (BNC) is one of the Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It began as Brasenose Hall in the 13th century, before being founded as a college in 1509. The l ...

(which he entered at the age of 15), graduating in 1756. He then became curate and later vicar of St Matthew's Parish in Walsall. In 1766 he married Mary Whateley (1738–1825), his second wife, a published poet who ran a printing press and also wrote hymns. He died on 18 December 1789 at

Walsall Walsall (, or ; locally ) is a market town and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. Historic counties of England, Historically part of Staffordshire, it is located ...

in the West Midlands. He was buried at the Bath Street Burial Grounds. He is probably best known for his setting of

Psalm 148 Psalm 148 is the 148th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Praise ye the Lord from the heavens". In Latin, it is known as "Laudate Dominum de caelis". The psalm is one of the Laudate psalms. Old Testame ...

, known as DARWALL'S 148th, which is most often sung to the words "Rejoice the Lord is King" (from

Charles Wesley Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 – 29 March 1788) was an English Anglican cleric and a principal leader of the Methodist movement. Wesley was a prolific hymnwriter who wrote over 6,500 hymns during his lifetime. His works include "And Can It ...

's ''Moral and Sacred Poems'' of 1744) and to "Ye holy angels bright" (from

Richard Baxter Richard Baxter (12 November 1615 – 8 December 1691) was an English Nonconformist (Protestantism), Nonconformist church leader and theologian from Rowton, Shropshire, who has been described as "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". He ma ...

's ''Poetical Fragments'' of 1681). It was first sung at the inauguration of a new organ in 1773. Darwall also wrote many tunes for the ''New Version'' of

Nahum Tate Nahum Tate ( ; 1652 – 30 July 1715) was an Anglo-Irish poet, hymnist, and lyricist, who became Poet Laureate in 1692. Tate is best known for '' The History of King Lear'', his 1681 adaptation of Shakespeare's ''King Lear'', and for his libr ...

and Nicholas Brady, as well as poetry published in ''

The Gentleman's Magazine ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' was a monthly magazine founded in London, England, by Edward Cave in January 1731. It ran uninterrupted for almost 200 years, until 1907, ceasing publication altogether in 1922. It was the first to use the term ''m ...

''.

Son

Darwall's son, also John, was vicar in 1796 and Lecturer of St John's Chapel,

Deritend Deritend is a historic area of Birmingham, England, built around a crossing point of the River Rea. It is first mentioned in 1276. Today Deritend is usually considered to be part of Digbeth. History Deritend was a crossing point of the River ...

, Birmingham.''Street Names of Walsall, volume 1'' of the series Street Names of Walsall Metropolitan Borough. Based on the original unpublished work by W.F. Blay with additional research by Walsall Local History Centre. Published by Walsal Metropolitan Borough Council's Walsall Local History Centre, 1992. .

References

External links

Biography
at the Cyber Hymnal {{DEFAULTSORT:Darwall, John 1731 births 1789 deaths People from the Borough of Stafford Alumni of Brasenose College, Oxford English hymnwriters 18th-century English poets 18th-century English Anglican priests 18th-century English writers 18th-century English male writers English composers People educated at Manchester Grammar School