Poetry Codex

Victorian

John S. B. Monsell

1811–1875

John Samuel Bewley Monsell (1811–1875) was an Irish-born Anglican clergyman, the son of the Archdeacon of Derry, who was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and ordained in 1834. He served in Ireland, as Rector of Ramoan in County Antrim, and from 1853 as Vicar of Egham in Surrey, where he was also Rural Dean; in 1870 he became Rector of St Nicholas, Guildford. He died in 1875 after a fall during the rebuilding of that church.

Monsell was a prolific hymn-writer, with some three hundred hymns to his name, among them ‘O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness’ and ‘Fight the good fight’. This selection draws on four of his books: Spiritual Songs for the Sundays and Holydays (1861), Hymns of Love and Praise for the Church’s Year (1866), Parish Musings, or Devotional Poems (the Rivington edition of 1863) and The Passing Bell and Other Poems (1868), whose long title poem is given as a separate work.

Major Works (1)

  1. The Passing Bell — Religious poem, 1868

Poems (319)

  1. Advent Sunday
  2. Second Sunday in Advent
  3. Third Sunday in Advent
  4. Fourth Sunday in Advent
  5. Christmas Day
  6. St. Stephen's Day
  7. St. John's Day
  8. The Holy Innocents
  9. Sunday after Christmas Day
  10. The Circumcision of Christ
  11. The Epiphany
  12. First Sunday after Epiphany
  13. Second Sunday after Epiphany
  14. Third Sunday after Epiphany
  15. Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
  16. Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
  17. Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
  18. Septuagesima Sunday
  19. Sexagesima Sunday
  20. Quinquagesima Sunday
  21. Ash Wednesday
  22. First Sunday in Lent
  23. Second Sunday in Lent
  24. Third Sunday in Lent
  25. Fourth Sunday in Lent
  26. Fifth Sunday in Lent
  27. Palm Sunday
  28. Monday before Easter
  29. Tuesday before Easter
  30. Wednesday before Easter
  31. Thursday before Easter
  32. Good Friday
  33. Easter Eve
  34. Easter Day
  35. Monday in Easter Week
  36. Tuesday in Easter Week
  37. First Sunday after Easter
  38. Second Sunday after Easter
  39. Third Sunday after Easter
  40. Fourth Sunday after Easter
  41. Fifth Sunday after Easter
  42. Ascension Day
  43. Sunday after Ascension Day
  44. Whit-Sunday
  45. Monday in Whitsun-Week
  46. Tuesday in Whitsun-Week
  47. Trinity Sunday
  48. First Sunday after Trinity
  49. Second Sunday after Trinity
  50. Third Sunday after Trinity
  51. Fourth Sunday after Trinity
  52. Fifth Sunday after Trinity
  53. Sixth Sunday after Trinity
  54. Seventh Sunday after Trinity
  55. Eighth Sunday after Trinity
  56. Ninth Sunday after Trinity
  57. Tenth Sunday after Trinity
  58. Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
  59. Twelfth Sunday after Trinity
  60. Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
  61. Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
  62. Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
  63. Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
  64. Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity
  65. Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
  66. Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
  67. Twentieth Sunday after Trinity
  68. Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity
  69. Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity
  70. Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity
  71. Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity
  72. Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity
  73. St. Andrew's Day
  74. St. Thomas the Apostle
  75. The Conversion of St. Paul
  76. The Presentation of Christ in the Temple
  77. St. Matthias's Day
  78. The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  79. St. Mark's Day
  80. St. Philip and St. James's Day
  81. St. Barnabas the Apostle
  82. St. John Baptist's Nativity
  83. St. Peter's Day
  84. St. James the Apostle
  85. St. Bartholomew the Apostle
  86. St. Matthew the Apostle
  87. St. Michael and All Angels
  88. St. Luke the Evangelist
  89. St. Simon, and St. Jude, Apostles
  90. All Saints' Day
  91. In Memoriam
  92. Morning (Sing to the Lord a joyful song.)
  93. Morning (Awake, my glory ! harp and lute !)
  94. Evening (Trim the lamp, its light is fading.)
  95. Evening (I think of Thee, my God, by night)
  96. Advent Sunday
  97. Second Sunday in Advent
  98. Third Sunday in Advent
  99. Fourth Sunday in Advent
  100. Christmas-Day (To Christ the Lord !)
  101. Christmas-Day (Glory be to God on high !)
  102. First Sunday after Christmas
  103. Second Sunday after Christmas
  104. The Circumcision of Christ
  105. The Epiphany
  106. First Sunday after Epiphany
  107. Second Sunday after Epiphany
  108. Third Sunday after Epiphany
  109. Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
  110. Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
  111. Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
  112. Septuagesima Sunday
  113. Sexagesima Sunday
  114. Quinquagesima Sunday
  115. Ash Wednesday (My sins, my sins, my Saviour !)
  116. Ash Wednesday (My sins have taken such an hold on me)
  117. First Sunday in Lent
  118. Second Sunday in Lent
  119. Third Sunday in Lent
  120. Fourth Sunday in Lent
  121. Fifth Sunday in Lent
  122. Palm Sunday
  123. Monday before Easter
  124. Tuesday before Easter
  125. Wednesday before Easter
  126. Thursday before Easter
  127. Good-Friday ('Thy rebuke my heart hath broken !')
  128. Good-Friday (Jesus ! gentle suff'rer ! say)
  129. Easter-Even
  130. Easter-Day (Christ is risen ! Alleluia !)
  131. Monday in Easter Week
  132. Tuesday in Easter Week
  133. First Sunday after Easter
  134. Second Sunday after Easter
  135. Third Sunday after Easter
  136. Fourth Sunday after Easter
  137. Fifth Sunday after Easter
  138. Ascension Day
  139. Sunday after Ascension Day
  140. Whit Sunday (Holy Spirit ! long expected.)
  141. Whit Sunday (Gift of the Father's living love !)
  142. Monday in Whitsun Week
  143. Tuesday in Whitsun Week
  144. Trinity Sunday (Mighty Father ! Blessed Son !)
  145. Trinity Sunday (Let all the creation)
  146. First Sunday after Trinity
  147. Second Sunday after Trinity
  148. Third Sunday after Trinity
  149. Fourth Sunday after Trinity
  150. Fifth Sunday after Trinity
  151. Sixth Sunday after Trinity
  152. Seventh Sunday after Trinity
  153. Eighth Sunday after Trinity
  154. Ninth Sunday after Trinity
  155. Tenth Sunday after Trinity
  156. Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
  157. Twelfth Sunday after Trinity
  158. Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
  159. Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
  160. Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
  161. Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
  162. Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity
  163. Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
  164. Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
  165. Twentieth Sunday after Trinity
  166. Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity
  167. Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity
  168. Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity
  169. Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity
  170. Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity
  171. Sunday next before Advent
  172. The Presentation of Christ in the Temple
  173. The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  174. Hymn for All Saints' Days
  175. Holy Baptism
  176. Confirmation
  177. Penitential Confirmation Hymn
  178. Holy Communion (Lord ! when at Thy holy table)
  179. Holy Communion (I hunger and I thirst)
  180. Holy Communion (Dear Body of my Lord !)
  181. Holy Communion (I do not, Lord ! presume)
  182. Holy Matrimony
  183. Churching of Women
  184. Burial of the Dead
  185. Ordination (When to Thy sacred Altar led)
  186. Ordination (Lord of the living harvest)
  187. Church Building
  188. Missionary Song
  189. Harvest (Earth below is teeming)
  190. Harvest (Sing to the Lord of harvest !)
  191. Dearth
  192. Home Evening Hymn
  193. Communion of Saints
  194. Choral Litany
  195. Songs from the Song of Songs: Chapter II
  196. Songs from the Song of Songs: Chapter V
  197. Songs from the Song of Songs: Chapter VI
  198. Christian life's no bank of roses
  199. O it is a weary life
  200. When cold our hearts, and far from Thee
  201. Yes ! I do feel, my God, that I am Thine !
  202. Sweet sacred Name, that like a spell
  203. Sad, solemn season ! meet for thought and prayer
  204. Give me, O Lord, whate'er my lot may be
  205. Lord, give me grace, that I may be
  206. Good Christian, onward, upward haste
  207. Birds have their quiet nest
  208. Would'st thou learn the depth of sin
  209. Swollen as the troubled sea
  210. Guide me ever, Lord, I pray
  211. Who knoweth what is good for man
  212. My task is o'er, my work is done
  213. My Sun 'mid darkness, death and gloom
  214. I will not, cannot let Thee go !
  215. Rise sons of Zion — peaceful warriors rise !
  216. My soul, would'st thou behold thy God
  217. Now all is done, that love and care
  218. Why dost thou weep ? say, can it be
  219. God of that glorious gift of grace
  220. Give me, O Lord, an earnest heart
  221. My God ! what wondrous love was Thine
  222. Take up thy cross, my soul, nor grieve
  223. Who is so thoughtless as to say
  224. When worldly men, and worldly ways
  225. Up and be doing, — " sons of God " — arise !
  226. Sweet church bell sounding solemnly !
  227. When bow'd before Jehovah's throne
  228. O for the warmth of other days
  229. Fear ! — sure, Lord, a sinner must
  230. So teach me, Lord, to number
  231. This day the Lord is risen
  232. O how soft that bed must be
  233. Why restless, why so weary
  234. A wounded spirit stung by sin
  235. Beset with cares, oppress'd with woe
  236. Let it suffice thee, speak no more
  237. The sparrow on the house-top
  238. His Light my Guide ! His Law my rule !
  239. Great need have I for one
  240. "Abide with us," Thou God of love !
  241. When ease and quiet are our lot
  242. The broken contrite heart — oppress'd
  243. Dark and dim the daylight rose
  244. O what a gloomy cheerless scene
  245. Lord of love and mercy guide us
  246. For ever, Lord, to dwell with Thee !
  247. In Thee, my God, will I rejoice
  248. Blest sign of Man's redemption ! — I adore
  249. I ask'd for grace to lift me high
  250. When friend from friend is parting
  251. And wilt Thou hear my soul's complaint
  252. Lord, dependent on Thy promise
  253. When the threefold Name was spoken
  254. Members of Christ, children of God
  255. Believers, —this the glorious Name
  256. I've seen a shepherd following his flock
  257. Friend of the friendless and the lone
  258. Hush ! 'tis the hour of rest
  259. Sweet summer day, — how calm, how bright
  260. God of the Gospel, — hear our voice
  261. Whene'er I bend my knees in prayer
  262. Talk not of feelings, and of frames
  263. Give me that gentle spirit, Lord
  264. My God, my Saviour, sweet to be
  265. The spring-tide hour
  266. Dependent for our daily food
  267. Lord, what is life, without the beaming smile
  268. O for a heart more fervent
  269. Servant of God, and can it be
  270. Deep tolls the muffled bell
  271. Our sorrows sometimes are our truest joys
  272. My Father and my God
  273. When souls, tho' parted, can unite
  274. O for the time, when on the world
  275. In every season, every hour
  276. Whate'er my hand or heart design
  277. Lord, I'm oppress'd ! O undertake
  278. Why that sigh, my soul, at parting
  279. Hark, the Sabbath bells are pealing !
  280. Hour by hour, and day by day
  281. Sweet babe ! we welcome thee to earth
  282. My sister dear ! how oft for thee
  283. But ere we reach the shore the breeze is gone
  284. Where is my grave ? 'mid the silent dead
  285. What is beauty ? but a flower!
  286. Where is the past, with all its sunny hours
  287. Autumn leaves are falling fast
  288. Breath of the morning ! how balmy thy flight
  289. Merrily ! merrily on we sail !
  290. Hush, hush thee, my baby, hush, hush thee to rest
  291. Gently there, my child !
  292. They drew around Him, — for they oft had felt
  293. "Our Father," — covenant and sacred Name
  294. And shall not then that Name so justly dear
  295. Come, Lord of Glory, — come in pow'r and might
  296. When I consider, Lord, Thy perfect will
  297. Where'er the sun begins his golden reign
  298. How wisely God hath hedged life's path below
  299. Surrounded, every scene thro' which we
  300. For unto Thee all pow'r — all praise belongs
  301. Hush'd is the solemn voice that woke in prayer
  302. Ode to the Nightingales (Part I)
  303. Ode to the Nightingales (Part II)
  304. The Silver Wedding Day
  305. Far Away
  306. My Love
  307. The Rainbow
  308. The Cross
  309. Shechinah
  310. The Sacred Fisherman
  311. Love On ! Love On !
  312. My Grand-daughter
  313. Church Bells
  314. Hymn of Love
  315. God Save the Queen
  316. Translation from Victor Hugo
  317. Translation from the Italian
  318. Michael Angelo's Reply
  319. Litany

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