Sabine Baring-Gould

Sabine Baring-Gould was an English Anglican priest, antiquary, novelist, folklorist, hymn writer, and collector of traditional song. Born in Exeter in 1834, he was educated at Clare College, Cambridge, taking his B.A. in 1857 and M.A. in 1860. He was ordained in the Church of England in 1864 and served first in Yorkshire, including the curacy of Horbury, before later ministries at Dalton and East Mersea. In 1881 he became rector of Lew Trenchard in Devon, the parish associated with his family estate.

Baring-Gould's literary output extended far beyond hymnody. His publications included the multi-volume Lives of the Saints, Curious Myths of the Middle Ages, theological works, novels, travel writing, historical studies, sermons, and collections of folklore. From the late nineteenth century he also became an important collector of traditional songs in Devon and Cornwall, working with musicians and other collectors to preserve regional repertory that might otherwise have been lost.

His best-known hymn texts include "Onward, Christian Soldiers" and "Now the Day Is Over," and he also produced English versions of continental and traditional texts. Hymn writing was therefore one part of a much broader career devoted to religion, literature, history, folklore, and the preservation of vernacular song.