John Samuel Bewley Monsell
Encyclopedia
Rev. John Samuel Bewley Monsell (March 2, 1811) - (April 9, 1875) was an Irish Anglican clergyman and poet
.
, he was born in St. Columb's, Londonderry, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin
, receiving a BA in 1832 (and an LL.D in 1856). He married Anne, daughter of Bolton Waller, of Shannon Grove and Castletown on 15 January 1835. Their eldest son Thomas died on the way to the Crimean War in 1855, aged 18, in a shipwreck off Italy; their eldest daughter Elizabeth Isabella died in Torquay at the age of 28 in 1861. Another daughter, Jane Diana, married Rev. C.W. Furse in 1859. His brother Charles, also a clergyman, married Harriet O'Brien, who refounded the Community of St John Baptist at Clewer near Windsor after her husband's death in Italy. Through Charles and Harriet, John Monsell became influenced by the Oxford Movement
and an admirer of Edward Bouverie Pusey
, and also became acquainted with William Ewart Gladstone
, with whom he maintained a correspondence. He was responsible for the building or rebuilding of three of his churches: Ramoan, at Ballycastle, County Antrim
, St Jude, Englefield Green
, during his incumbency at Egham
, and St. Nicolas' Church, Guildford
. While inspecting the rebuilding of the latter, Monsell fell from a boulder, and subsequently died from an infected wound.
His hymns include:
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Life
Son of Thomas Bewley Monsell, Archdeacon of DerryDerry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, he was born in St. Columb's, Londonderry, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, receiving a BA in 1832 (and an LL.D in 1856). He married Anne, daughter of Bolton Waller, of Shannon Grove and Castletown on 15 January 1835. Their eldest son Thomas died on the way to the Crimean War in 1855, aged 18, in a shipwreck off Italy; their eldest daughter Elizabeth Isabella died in Torquay at the age of 28 in 1861. Another daughter, Jane Diana, married Rev. C.W. Furse in 1859. His brother Charles, also a clergyman, married Harriet O'Brien, who refounded the Community of St John Baptist at Clewer near Windsor after her husband's death in Italy. Through Charles and Harriet, John Monsell became influenced by the Oxford Movement
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
and an admirer of Edward Bouverie Pusey
Edward Bouverie Pusey
Edward Bouverie Pusey was an English churchman and Regius Professor of Hebrew at Christ Church, Oxford. He was one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement.-Early years:...
, and also became acquainted with William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
, with whom he maintained a correspondence. He was responsible for the building or rebuilding of three of his churches: Ramoan, at Ballycastle, County Antrim
Ballycastle, County Antrim
Ballycastle is a small town in County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Its population was 5,089 people in the 2001 Census. It is the seat and main settlement of Moyle District Council....
, St Jude, Englefield Green
Englefield Green
Englefield Green is a large village in northern Surrey, England. It is home to Royal Holloway, University of London, the south eastern corner of Windsor Great Park and close to the towns of Egham, Windsor, Staines and Virginia Water...
, during his incumbency at Egham
Egham
Egham is a wealthy suburb in the Runnymede borough of Surrey, in the south-east of England. It is part of the London commuter belt and Greater London Urban Area, and about south-west of central London on the River Thames and near junction 13 of the M25 motorway.-Demographics:Egham town has a...
, and St. Nicolas' Church, Guildford
St. Nicolas' Church, Guildford
St. Nicolas is an Anglican parish church in the centre of Guildford, England. It is one of the three ancient parishes of Guildford borough ....
. While inspecting the rebuilding of the latter, Monsell fell from a boulder, and subsequently died from an infected wound.
Service
- Curacy of TemplemoreTemplemoreTemplemore is a town in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty. It is part of the Roman Catholic parish of Templemore, Clonmore and Killea....
(Diocese of DerryDerryDerry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
) 1834-1836 - Chaplain of Chapel of Ease (St. Augustine’s) 1836-1838
- Chaplain of Magdalene College, Belfast 1843-1846
- Rector of Dunaghy 1846-1847
- Rector of Ramoan (Diocese of ConnorConnorConnor , sometimes spelled Conor when used as a first name, may refer to:-Living persons:* Connor Wickham, English footballer* Connor Paolo, American Actor...
) 1847-1853 - Chancellor of Connor 1847-1853
- Vicar of EghamEghamEgham is a wealthy suburb in the Runnymede borough of Surrey, in the south-east of England. It is part of the London commuter belt and Greater London Urban Area, and about south-west of central London on the River Thames and near junction 13 of the M25 motorway.-Demographics:Egham town has a...
, near Windsor 1853-1870 - Rector of St. Nicolas' Church, GuildfordSt. Nicolas' Church, GuildfordSt. Nicolas is an Anglican parish church in the centre of Guildford, England. It is one of the three ancient parishes of Guildford borough ....
and Chaplain to Queen Victoria 1870-1875.
Published writings
Monsell was a prolific hymnist. He published eleven volumes of poems and about 300 hymns. His books include: Hymns and Miscellaneous Poems (1837), Parish Musings, of Devotional Poems (1850), Spiritual Songs for the Sundays and Holy Days Throughout the Year (1859), Hymns of Love and Praise for the Christian Year (1863), Our New Vicar (1867), Litany Hymns (1870)His hymns include:
- Fight the good fight with all thy might
- Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
- On our way rejoicing as we homeward move
- Mighty Father! Blessed Son