George Matheson, a minister in the Church of Scotland, was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1842. He entered Glasgow University in 1857, spending five years in the arts and four years in the study of Divinity. He was licensed to preach in 1866.
Henry Francis Lyte, a clergyman in the Church of England, was born in Kelso, Scotland in 1793. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin where he graduated in 1814. During his college career he won the prize for the best English poem on three occasions.
Thomas Toke Lynch, an English Congregational minister, was born in Essex, England in 1818. He was pastor of a small church at Highgate until illness forced his retirement for three years (1856-1859). He resumed pastoral relations in 1860 with his former parishioners – who completed a new place of worship (Mornington Church) on Hampstead Road, London in 1862.
Martin Luther, the hero of the Reformation, was born in the village of Eisleben in 1483. He entered the University at Erfurt in 1501 and graduated with honors. In 1505 he entered an Augustinian monastery at Erfurt and was consecrated to the priesthood in 1507. He was a diligent scholar and in 1508 was called to the chair of Philosophy at the University of Wittenberg.
Mary Artemisia Lathbury was born in Manchester, New York in 1841. After graduating from school she became an art teacher and later engaged in editorial work. She contributed a number of hymns to the Methodist Hymnal; including her best-known work, “Break Thou the Bread of Life.”
Thomas Ken, a bishop of the Church of England, was born in Berkhampstead, England in 1637. He was educated at Winchester School and Oxford University, graduating in 1661. With six other bishops he refused to publish the “Declaration of Indulgence” issued by James II in 1688 and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. After his release he spent the rest of his life writing hymns and devotional works. He died in 1711.
Thomas Kelly was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1769. He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin University and entered the ministry of the Established Church. His evangelical preaching proved too strong for the Established Church and he was forbidden by Archbishop Fowler to preach in the city. He became an Independent and preached in various Dublin locations for more than sixty years.
William Hunter, a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in Ireland in 1811 but came to America as a child. He graduated from Madison College in 1833 and was for a number of years professor of Hebrew and Biblical Literature at Alleghany College.