Joseph Medlicott Scriven
1819–1886 · Ireland · Classical
Joseph Medlicott Scriven (1819-1886) was an Irish-born hymn writer and Christian missionary who emigrated to Canada in the 1840s. He worked as a tutor and devoted himself to missionary work among poor settlers in Ontario, living a life of humble service and Christian charity. Scriven is remembered almost exclusively for his single enduring hymn, 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus' (1855), which has become one of the most beloved and widely sung hymns in Protestant Christianity. The hymn's message of comfort and divine friendship resonated deeply with congregations and has been translated into numerous languages. Though he wrote other hymns, only this one achieved lasting prominence, making it his singular but significant contribution to Christian hymnody.