SOURCE: Hope, Norman Victor. Isaac Watts and His Contribution to English Hymnody. New York: Hymn Society of America, 1947, 10 p.

In the following essay, Hope examines the achievements of Watts in relation to English hymnody and praises his contributions to this field.

In any account of the development of the English hymn, the name of Isaac Watts must occupy a place of high honor. To be sure, it would doubtless be correct to say that the very greatest of all English hymn-writers was not Watts, but Charles Wesley. But even so, it may well be thought that Watts's over all contribution to English hymnody was at least as great as that of any other, Wesley included.

The chief facts concerning the life of Isaac Watts can be briefly summarized. He was born in Southampton, England, on July 17, 1674, the son of a Dissenting schoolmaster who later went into business. Since...