Edward Caswall

1814-1878. Hymnwriter. Son of an Anglican vicar, he was educated at Oxford, and after ordination was incumbent of Stratford-sub-Castle, Salisbury (1840-47). Having become a Roman Catholic, he joined J.H. Newman* at the Oratory, Edgbaston, in 1850. There he wrote most of his poetry. His translations of Latin hymns from the Roman Breviary, etc., are widely used: for example, “Bethlehem! of noblest cities”; “Hark, an awful voice is sounding”; “Jesu, the very thought of Thee”; and “My God, I love Thee-not because.” Also much used in Christian worship are “See amid the winter's snow” (an original composition); “Glory be to Jesus” (from Italian); and “When morning gilds the skies” (from German). He published Lyra Catholica (1849); The Masque of Mary (1858); A May Pageant (1865); and Hymns and Other Poems (1863).