Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Thring, Godfrey
THRING, GODFREY (1823–1903), hymnologist, born at Alford, Somerset, on 25 March 1823, was third son of John Gale Dalton Thring, rector and squire of Alford, by his wife Sarah, daughter of John Jenkyns, vicar of Evercreech, and sister of Richard Jenkyns [q. v.], Master of Balliol. Henry Thring, Lord Thring [q. v. Suppl. II], and Edward Thring [q. v.], headmaster of Uppingham, were elder brothers. Educated at Shrewsbury school, he matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford, in 1841, graduating B.A. in 1845. After his ordination in 1846 he held successively the curacies of Stratfield-Turgis (1846–50), of Strathfieldsaye (1850–3), of Euston, Norfolk (1856), and of Arborfield, Berkshire (1857), and in 1858 succeeded his father as rector of Alford, becoming in 1876 prebendary of Wells. He resigned his living in 1893, and died at Shamley Green, Surrey, on 13 September 1903. Thring published 'Hymns and other Verses' (1866); 'Hymns, Congregational and Others' (1866); and 'Hymns and Sacred Lyrics' (1874). He also edited in 1880 'A Church of England Hymn Book, adapted to the Daily Services of the Church throughout the Year' (a revised edition appeared in 1882; 3rd edit. 1891).
The literary standard of this collection is very high, but its practical use has been limited. Thring wrote many hymns which have attained popularity. Among them are 'The radiant morn hath passed away'; 'Fierce raged the tempest'; 'Saviour, blessed Saviour'; and 'Thou, to whom the sick and dying.' He produced what is generally admitted to be the best translation for singing of Luther's 'Ein' feste Burg,' 'A Fortress sure is God our King'; this is No. 245 in 'Church of England Hymn Book' (1882).
[Julian's Dictionary of Hymnology; W. Garrett Horder's The Hymn Lover; Duncan Campbell's Hymns and Hymn Writers, with particulars supplied by the author.]