George Wallace Briggs
1875 - 1959
Church of England
Biography
George Wallace Briggs (1875–1959) was an English Church of England priest, hymn writer, hymnologist, and religious educator. Born at Kirkby in Nottinghamshire, he studied at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and was ordained deacon in 1899 and priest in 1901. After an early curacy he served as a Royal Navy chaplain from 1902 to 1909, then as vicar of St Andrew’s, Norwich, from 1909 to 1918 and rector of Loughborough from 1918 to 1934. He was a Canon of Leicester Cathedral from 1927 to 1934 and a Canon of Worcester Cathedral from 1934 until his retirement in 1956.
Briggs became an important figure in twentieth-century British hymnody and was one of the founders of the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland. His hymns include Christ Is the World’s True Light, Come, Risen Lord, and Deign to Be Our Guest, and Word of the Living God; the last was written for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Bible Reading Fellowship and was sung at Westminster Abbey in 1947. He also worked in religious education and helped shape books of prayers and hymns for schools. His writing is notable for bringing biblical, liturgical, and doctrinal themes into clear congregational verse.
Briggs became an important figure in twentieth-century British hymnody and was one of the founders of the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland. His hymns include Christ Is the World’s True Light, Come, Risen Lord, and Deign to Be Our Guest, and Word of the Living God; the last was written for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Bible Reading Fellowship and was sung at Westminster Abbey in 1947. He also worked in religious education and helped shape books of prayers and hymns for schools. His writing is notable for bringing biblical, liturgical, and doctrinal themes into clear congregational verse.
Hymns by George Wallace Briggs
God Hath Spoken by the Prophets
Role: Lyricist