John Mason Neale
1852–1866 · England · Romantic
Anglican priest, scholar and warden of Sackville College, East Grinstead, the great translator of Latin and Greek hymns into English.
Life
John Mason Neale was born in London in 1818, the son of a clergyman, and educated at Sherborne School and Trinity College, Cambridge. Influenced by the Oxford Movement, he helped found the Cambridge Camden Society, which promoted the revival of Gothic architecture and ritual. Ordained in 1842, he was briefly incumbent of Crawley but had to resign because of chronic lung disease; a winter in Madeira gave him time for research on the Eastern Church. From 1846 until his death he was warden of Sackville College, an almshouse at East Grinstead. In 1854 he co-founded the Society of Saint Margaret, an Anglican order of nursing sisters, and his high-church views brought him suspicion and even violence. He died in 1866.
As a Hymn Writer
Neale opened the treasury of ancient and medieval hymnody to English congregations. His Mediaeval Hymns and Sequences (1851), Hymnal Noted (1852–54) and Hymns of the Eastern Church (1862) gave the Church 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel', 'All Glory, Laud, and Honor', 'Of the Father's Love Begotten', 'Jerusalem the Golden', 'The Day of Resurrection' and many more. His translations keep the objective, liturgical character of the originals, and he wrote original carols such as 'Good King Wenceslas'.
In The Lutheran Hymnal and Lutheran Service Book (24)
- Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel
- A Great and Mighty Wonder
- Of the Father's Love Begotten
- To the Name of Our Salvation
- The Star Proclaims the King Is Here
- All Glory, Laud, and Honor
- The Royal Banners Forward Go
- Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain
- The Day of Resurrection
- Ye Sons and Daughters of the King
- Stars of the Morning, So Gloriously Bright
- Around the Throne of God a Band
- Draw Nigh and Take the Body of the Lord
- And Wilt Thou Pardon, Lord
- Blessed Savior, Who hast Taught Me
- Brief Life Is Here Our Portion
- Christ, Thou Art the Sure Foundation
- Art Thou Weary, Art Thou Troubled
- The Day Is Past and Over
- O Trinity, Most Blessed Light
- The World Is Very Evil
- Jerusalem the Golden
- For Thee, O Dear, Dear Country
- O Lord of Hosts, Whose Glory Fills
Sources: Wikipedia, 'John Mason Neale'.
Hymn Texts (7)
- That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright
- O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
- All Glory Laud and Honor
- Good Christian Friends, Rejoice
- O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing
- O Wondrous Type! O Vision Fair
- Good Christian Friends Rejoice
Translations (33)
- A Great and Mighty Wonder
- Art Thou Weary Art Thou Troubled
- Before the Ending of the Day
- Brief Life Is Here Our Portion
- Christ Thou Art the Sure Foundation
- Christ is Made the Sure Foundation
- Come Ye Faithful Raise the Strain
- Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain
- Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord
- Draw Nigh and Take the Body of the Lord
- For Thee O Dear Dear Country
- From East to West From Shore to Shore
- Good Christian Friends Rejoice
- Jerusalem the Golden
- Jesus Came, the Heavens Adoring
- Light of Light, O Sole-Begotten
- O Chief of Cities Bethlehem
- O God of God, O Light of Light
- O Light of Gentile Nations
- O Sons and Daughters of the King
- Of the Glorious Body Telling
- Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel
- Oh Wondrous Type Oh Vision Fair
- Oh, What Their Joy
- Sing My Tongue How Glorious Battle
- Sweet Flowerets of the Martyr Band
- That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright
- The Day Is Past and Over
- The Royal Banners Forward Go
- Thou Light of Gentile Nations
- To the Name of Our Salvation
- When Christ's Appearing Was Made Known
- Ye Sons and Daughters of the King