James Waddell Alexander
1804–1859 · USA · Classical
James Waddell Alexander (1804-1859) was a prominent Presbyterian minister and professor of biblical literature and ecclesiastical history at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he profoundly influenced generations of theological students. A prolific hymn writer, Alexander composed numerous hymns that combined scholarly theological depth with accessible, devotional language, making complex doctrines available to congregational worshippers. His hymns, including "O Lord of Heaven and Earth and Sea," exemplified the 19th-century Presbyterian hymnodic tradition and were widely published in contemporary hymnals. Beyond his hymn writing, Alexander was known for his literary versatility, producing sermons, commentaries, and works on church history that established him as a significant intellectual figure in American Protestantism. His legacy in hymnody reflects his commitment to uniting rigorous theological instruction with practical spiritual expression for the broader church community.
Hymn Texts (13)
- I Bind Unto Myself Today (St. Patrick's Breastplate)
- O Sacred Head Now Wounded
- O Sacred Head Now Wounded
- O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
- Once In Royal David's City
- There is a Green Hill Far Away
- Wondrous King All-Glorious
- Isaiah, Mighty Seer in Days of Old
- With Trembling Awe the Chosen Three
- Jesus Calls Us O'er the Tumult
- Jesus Calls Us o'er the Tumult
- Jesus, Loving to the End
- Break Now the Bread of Life