Poetry Codex

Victorian

Isaac Williams

1802–1865

Isaac Williams (1802–1865) was a Welsh-born clergyman and poet, a Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford, and a student and disciple of John Keble. A member of the Oxford Movement, he contributed verses to Lyra Apostolica and wrote Tract 80, “On Reserve in Communicating Religious Knowledge.”

His best-known verse is devotional. The Cathedral (1838) is a cycle of short poems in which the parts of a church — porch, cloisters, nave, transepts, choir, pillars and windows — stand for the Christian life and the Church of England. The Baptistery (1842), published anonymously “by the author of The Cathedral,” sets a long poem to each of twenty-three engraved “images” that follow the baptized soul’s way to eternal life.

Poems (246)

  1. The Dedication
  2. The Approach
  3. Baptismal Promises: The Left-hand Door (Repentance)
  4. Baptismal Promises: The Middle Door (Obedience)
  5. Baptismal Promises: The Right-hand Door (Faith)
  6. The Cloisters: The Liturgy
  7. The Cloisters: Forms
  8. The Cloisters: The Collect for the Day
  9. The Cloisters: Prayer
  10. The Cloisters: The Complaint
  11. The Cloisters: Sunday
  12. The Cloisters: Village Psalmody
  13. The Cloisters: The Ancient Village
  14. The Cloisters: The Modern Cathedral
  15. The Cloisters: The Daily Service
  16. The Cloisters: Foreign Breviaries
  17. The Cloisters: The Church in Scotland
  18. The Cloisters: The Church in Wales (I)
  19. The Cloisters: The Church in Wales (II)
  20. The Cloisters: The Church in Wales (III)
  21. The Cloisters: Political Changes
  22. The Cloisters: The sure Covenant
  23. The Cloisters: Prayer for the Parliament
  24. The Cloisters: Prayer for the King
  25. The Cloisters: Consolations of Baptism
  26. The Cloisters: The City of God
  27. The Cloisters: New Ways
  28. The Cloisters: The Crucifix
  29. The Cloisters: The Holy Altar
  30. The Cloisters: The Ancient Church
  31. The Cloisters: The Holy Land
  32. The Cloisters: Lost Eden
  33. The Cloisters: The Coming of Christ
  34. The Way to the Chapter-house: Sacred Retirement I
  35. The Way to the Chapter-house: Sacred Retirement II
  36. The Way to the Chapter-house: Sacred Retirement III
  37. The Way to the Chapter-house: Sacred Retirement IV
  38. The Way to the Chapter-house: Sacred Retirement V
  39. The Way to the Chapter-house: Sacred Retirement VI
  40. The Way to the Chapter-house: Sacred Retirement VII
  41. The Chapter-house: Episcopacy I
  42. The Chapter-house: Episcopacy II
  43. The Chapter-house: Episcopacy III
  44. The Chapter-house: Episcopacy IV
  45. The Chapter-house: Episcopacy V
  46. The Chapter-house: Episcopacy VI
  47. The Chapter-house: Episcopacy VII
  48. The Chapter-house: Episcopacy VIII
  49. The North Porch: The Church in Hope
  50. The Sepulchral Recesses: Laud
  51. The Sepulchral Recesses: Ken
  52. The Sepulchral Recesses: King Charles I
  53. The Sepulchral Recesses: Kettlewell
  54. The Sepulchral Recesses: Taylor
  55. The Oratories: Distant Church Music
  56. The Oratories: The Doxology
  57. The Oratories: The Athanasian Creed
  58. The Oratories: Fast Days
  59. The North Transept: The Psalms I
  60. The North Transept: The Psalms II
  61. The North Transept: The Psalms III
  62. The North Transept: The Psalms IV
  63. The North Transept: The Psalms V
  64. The North Transept: The Psalms VI
  65. The North Transept: The Psalms VII
  66. The North Transept: The Psalms VIII
  67. The North Transept: The Psalms IX
  68. The North Transept: The Psalms X
  69. The North Transept: The Psalms XI
  70. The North Transept: The Psalms XII
  71. The North Transept: The Psalms XIII
  72. The North Transept: The Psalms XIV
  73. The North Transept: The Psalms XV
  74. The North Transept: The Psalms XVI
  75. The North Transept: The Psalms XVII
  76. The North Transept: The Psalms XVIII
  77. The North Transept: The Psalms XIX
  78. The North Transept: The Psalms XX
  79. The North Transept: The Psalms XXI
  80. The North Transept: The Psalms XXII
  81. The North Transept: The Psalms XXIII
  82. The North Transept: The Psalms XXIV
  83. The North Transept: The Psalms XXV
  84. The North Transept: The Psalms XXVI
  85. The North Transept: The Psalms XXVII
  86. The North Transept: The Psalms XXVIII
  87. The North Transept: The Psalms XXIX
  88. The North Aisle: The Lord's Prayer I
  89. The North Aisle: The Lord's Prayer II
  90. The North Aisle: The Lord's Prayer III (In the Baptismal Service)
  91. The North Aisle: The Lord's Prayer IV (In the Daily Service)
  92. The North Aisle: The Lord's Prayer V (In the Litany)
  93. The North Aisle: The Lord's Prayer VI (In the Ante-Communion)
  94. The North Aisle: The Lord's Prayer VII (In the Post-Communion)
  95. The North Aisle: The Lord's Prayer VIII (In the Marriage Service)
  96. The North Aisle: The Lord's Prayer IX (In the Burial Service)
  97. The North Aisle: The Lord's Prayer X
  98. The North Aisle: The Lord's Prayer XI
  99. The North Aisle: The Lord's Prayer XII
  100. The North Aisle: The Lord's Prayer XIII
  101. The Middle Aisle: Holy Scripture I
  102. The Middle Aisle: Holy Scripture II
  103. The Middle Aisle: Holy Scripture III
  104. The Middle Aisle: Holy Scripture IV
  105. The Middle Aisle: Holy Scripture V
  106. The Middle Aisle: Holy Scripture VI
  107. The Middle Aisle: Holy Scripture VII
  108. The Middle Aisle: Holy Scripture VIII
  109. The Middle Aisle: Holy Scripture IX
  110. The Middle Aisle: Holy Scripture X
  111. The Middle Aisle: Holy Scripture XI
  112. The Middle Aisle: Holy Scripture XII
  113. The South Aisle: The Creed I
  114. The South Aisle: The Creed II
  115. The South Aisle: The Creed III
  116. The South Aisle: The Creed IV
  117. The South Aisle: The Creed V
  118. The South Aisle: The Creed VI
  119. The South Aisle: The Creed VII
  120. The South Aisle: The Creed VIII
  121. The South Aisle: The Creed IX
  122. The South Aisle: The Creed X
  123. The South Aisle: The Creed XI
  124. The South Aisle: The Creed XII
  125. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel I
  126. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel II
  127. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel III
  128. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel IV
  129. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel V
  130. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel VI
  131. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel VII
  132. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel VIII
  133. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel IX
  134. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel X
  135. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XI
  136. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XII
  137. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XIII
  138. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XIV
  139. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XV
  140. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XVI
  141. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XVII
  142. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XVIII
  143. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XIX
  144. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XX
  145. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XXI
  146. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XXII
  147. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XXIII
  148. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XXIV
  149. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XXV
  150. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XXVI
  151. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XXVII
  152. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XXVIII
  153. The South Transept: The Epistle and Gospel XXIX
  154. The Oratories: Festival Days
  155. The Oratories: The Nicene Creed
  156. The Oratories: The Blessing
  157. The Oratories: Distant Church Bells
  158. The Sepulchral Recesses: Herbert
  159. The Sepulchral Recesses: Butler
  160. The Sepulchral Recesses: King George III
  161. The Sepulchral Recesses: Wilson
  162. The Sepulchral Recesses: Andrewes
  163. The South Porch: The Church in Fear
  164. The Steps to the Choir: The Litany
  165. The Approach to the Choir: Despondency
  166. The Approach to the Choir: Invitation
  167. The Skreen: Disciplina Arcani
  168. The Lady-Chapel: The Song of the Blessed Virgin
  169. The Parting Voluntary
  170. The Pillars of the Nave: Noah
  171. The Pillars of the Nave: Abraham
  172. The Pillars of the Nave: Joseph
  173. The Pillars of the Nave: Moses
  174. The Pillars of the Nave: Joshua
  175. The Pillars of the Nave: David
  176. The Pillars of the Nave: Elijah
  177. The Pillars of the Nave: Elisha
  178. The Pillars of the Nave: Isaiah
  179. The Pillars of the Nave: Jeremiah
  180. The Pillars of the Nave: Ezekiel
  181. The Pillars of the Nave: Daniel
  182. The Pillars of the Choir: St Peter
  183. The Pillars of the Choir: St Andrew
  184. The Pillars of the Choir: St James the Great
  185. The Pillars of the Choir: St John
  186. The Pillars of the Choir: St Philip
  187. The Pillars of the Choir: St Bartholomew
  188. The Pillars of the Choir: St Matthew
  189. The Pillars of the Choir: St Thomas
  190. The Pillars of the Choir: St James the Less
  191. The Pillars of the Choir: St Jude
  192. The Pillars of the Choir: St Simon
  193. The Pillars of the Choir: St Matthias
  194. The Western Window: The Nativity
  195. The Side Windows: Clement of Rome
  196. The Side Windows: Ignatius
  197. The Side Windows: Polycarp
  198. The Side Windows: Justin
  199. The Side Windows: Irenaeus
  200. The Side Windows: Tertullian
  201. The Side Windows: Clement of Alexandria
  202. The Side Windows: Origen
  203. The Side Windows: Cyprian
  204. The Side Windows: Dionysius of Alexandria
  205. The Side Windows: Hippolytus
  206. The Side Windows: Gregory Thaumaturgus
  207. The Side Windows: Athanasius
  208. The Side Windows: Ambrose
  209. The Side Windows: Basil
  210. The Side Windows: Gregory Nazianzen
  211. The Side Windows: Hilary
  212. The Side Windows: Cyril of Jerusalem
  213. The Side Windows: Epiphanius
  214. The Side Windows: Gregory Nyssen
  215. The Side Windows: Chrysostom
  216. The Side Windows: Augustine
  217. The Side Windows: Cyril of Alexandria
  218. The Side Windows: Jerome
  219. The Eastern Window: The Crucifixion
  220. The Departure
  221. The Frontispiece
  222. Prefatory Thoughts: A Dialogue
  223. The Baptistery: Introductory Stanzas
  224. Image the First: The Choice of Life
  225. Image the Second: Childhood at Self-Examination
  226. Image the Third: The Shortness of Time
  227. Image the Fourth: The Preparations of Prayer
  228. Image the Fifth: Giving Thanks for all Things
  229. Image the Sixth: Angels bearing Crosses
  230. Image the Seventh: The Church asking the Prayers of her Children
  231. Image the Eighth: The Complaint of the Penitent
  232. Image the Ninth: Habit Moulding Chains
  233. Image the Tenth: Actions written in Heaven
  234. Image the Eleventh: Man encompassed with Blessings
  235. Image the Twelfth: The Birth of Christ in the peaceful heart
  236. Image the Thirteenth: Trusting always in God
  237. Image the Fourteenth: The Death of the Righteous
  238. Image the Fifteenth: Visiting Holy Places, or the Pilgrims of St. David
  239. Image the Sixteenth: The Waters of the City of God
  240. Image the Seventeenth: The Balances of the Sanctuary
  241. Image the Eighteenth: The Daughters of the Heavenly Sion
  242. Image the Nineteenth: The Treasures of the King's Palace
  243. Image the Twentieth: The Pattern shewed in the Mount
  244. Image the Twenty-first: The Eyes which are in every Place
  245. Image the Twenty-second: The Day of Days, or the Great Manifestation
  246. Image the Twenty-third: The Years of Eternity

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