THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 355
Hymn 644. Saviour, again to Thy dear name we raise.
JOHN ELLERTON (603).
Written in 1866 for the Festival of the Malpas, Midrllewich, and Nantwich Choral Association ; revised and abridged for Appendix to Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1868.
Mr. Ellerton s biographer says of this hymn, By its con densation into four verses its spirit and power are wonderfully increased, and now it ranks with Bishop Ken s " Glory to Thee, my God, this night," Keble s " Sun of my soul, Thou Saviour dear," and Lyte s " Abide with me ; fast falls the eventide," as one of the great evening hymns of the English Church. Mr. Ellerton had been struck by the tune St. Agnes in Thome s collection ; and when asked to write a hymn for this choral association, he thought he would like to write words to this tune. He took a piece of paper, on one side of which was a part of his sermon for the previous Sunday, and drafted the six stanzas. For some years the hymn was sung to St. Agnes, but Dr. Dykes was asked to set the revised edition to music for Hymns Ancient and Modern. He played his tune over after evening service at St. Oswald s, Durham, and his choir was delighted ; so also was Sir Henry Baker when it reached him. Beautiful as Dr. Dykes s Pax Dei is, and much as Mr. Ellerton prized it, he himself preferred Dr. Hopkins s tune ( Ellers ) in A flat for unison singing, with its varied harmonies. The last verse was sung at Mr. Ellerton s funeral.
One verse in the MS. of this hymn is worthy of remem brance
Grant us Thy peace the peace Thou didst bestow
On Thine Apostles in Thine hour of woe ;
The peace Thou broughtest, when at eventide
They saw Thy pierced hands, Thy wounded side.
Hymn (545. The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended. JOHN ELLERTON (603).
\Vritten in 1870 as a contribution to a Liturgy for Missionary Meetings (Frome, Hodges); revised for Church Hymns, 1871. The first line is borrowed from an anonymous hymn in Church Poetry, I855-
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