Brian Arthur Wren

Brian Arthur Wren (born 1936 in Romford, Essex, England) is a British-born hymn poet, theologian, minister, teacher, and writer whose work has been influential in the renewal of English-language congregational song. He studied at Oxford University, including theology at Mansfield College, and was ordained in 1965 in the Congregational tradition that later became part of the United Reformed Church. He served the Hockley and Hawkwell congregation in Essex before moving into Christian education and work concerned with poverty, development, justice, and peace.

Wren became internationally known for hymn texts that treat congregational song as serious poetry and theology. His writing ranges across resurrection, creation, communion, justice, peace, the church, and the biblical story, and he has also written extensively about worship and the language Christians use in song. His books include What Language Shall I Borrow? and Praying Twice: The Music and Words of Congregational Song, alongside several collections of hymns and worship texts.

After relocating to the United States, Wren taught and led workshops on hymnody and worship. From 2000 to 2007 he served as the John and Miriam Conant Professor of Worship at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia, and he is Professor Emeritus there. He has been named a Fellow of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. His hymns appear across a wide range of denominational hymnals in Britain, North America, and elsewhere.