John Rippon (29 April 1751 – 17 December 1836) was an English

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...

minister. In 1787 he published an important hymnal, ''A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended to Be an Appendix to Dr. Watts’ Psalms and Hymns'', commonly known as ''Rippon's Selection'', which was very successful, and was reprinted 27 times in over 200,000 copies. Many hymns originally published in Rippon's ''Selection'' are preserved in the

Sacred Harp Sacred Harp singing is a tradition of sacred choral music that originated in New England and was later perpetuated and carried on in the American South. The name is derived from ''The Sacred Harp'', a ubiquitous and historically important tune ...

Life

At the age of 17, Rippon attended

Bristol Baptist College Baptists Together (officially The Baptist Union of Great Britain) is a Baptist Christian denomination in England and Wales. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance and Churches Together in England. The headquarters is in Didcot. Hi ...

in Bristol, England. After the death of

John Gill John Gill may refer to: Sports *John Gill (cricketer) (1854–1888), New Zealand cricketer *John Gill (coach) (1898–1997), American football coach *John Gill (footballer, born 1903), English professional footballer *John Gill (American football) ...

, he assumed Gill's pastorate, the Baptist meeting-house in Carter Lane,

Tooley Street Tooley Street is a road in central and south London connecting London Bridge to St Saviour's Dock; it runs past Tower Bridge on the Southwark/Bermondsey side of the River Thames, and forms part of the A200 road. (.) St Olave The earliest nam ...

Southwark Southwark ( ) is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed ...

, from 1773 at the age of 20 until his death, a period of 63 years. During these times, the church experienced great growth and became one of the largest congregations in the country. The congregation moved to New Park Street from Carter Lane in 1833. The

New Park Street Chapel The New Park Street Chapel was a Reformed Baptist church in Southwark in London built in 1833. The fellowship began worshipping together in 1650. Its first pastor was William Rider, and many notable others have filled the position since, includin ...

could seat 1,200 people. Rippon's church was later pastored by

Charles Haddon Spurgeon Charles Haddon Spurgeon (19 June 1834 – 31 January 1892) was an English Particular Baptist preacher. Spurgeon remains highly influential among Christians of various denominations, among whom he is known as the "Prince of Preachers". He wa ...

before moving to the

Metropolitan Tabernacle The Metropolitan Tabernacle is a large independent Reformed Baptist church in the Elephant and Castle in London. It was the largest non-conformist church of its day in 1861. The Tabernacle Fellowship have been worshipping together since 1650. ...

Elephant and Castle The Elephant and Castle is an area around a major road junction in London, England, in the London Borough of Southwark. The name also informally refers to much of Walworth and Newington, due to the proximity of the London Underground station ...

. Rippon also edited the ''Baptist Annual Register'' for 12 years. He was considered the foremost authority on the hymns of

Isaac Watts Isaac Watts (17 July 1674 – 25 November 1748) was an English Congregational minister, hymn writer, theologian, and logician. He was a prolific and popular hymn writer and is credited with some 750 hymns. His works include "When I Survey the ...

. Rippon's Selection of hymns were used by the congregation until 1866 when Spurgeon produced an update called "Our Own Hymn Book" which borrowed much from Rippon and Watts. Like

, he looked for a large scale conversion of the Jews at the end of the age. Grave of John Rippon, Bunhill Fields

At the time of his death, he was working on a book commemorating those buried in London's

Dissenter A dissenter (from the Latin ''dissentire'', "to disagree") is one who dissents (disagrees) in matters of opinion, belief, etc. Usage in Christianity Dissent from the Anglican church In the social and religious history of England and Wales, and ...

cemetery,

Bunhill Fields Bunhill Fields is a former burial ground in central London, in the London Borough of Islington, just north of the City of London. What remains is about in extent and the bulk of the site is a public garden maintained by the City of London Cor ...

, where he himself was buried.Francis, J. C. '' Notes by the Way'' (1909)

References

Bibliography

* Manley, Ken R. Redeeming Love Proclaim': John Rippon and the Baptists'' (Carlisle, Paternoster Press, 2004) (Studies in Baptist History and Thought - SBHT, 12). * Manley, Ken R., "John Rippon and Baptist Hymnody," in Isabel Rivers and David L. Wykes (eds), ''Dissenting Praise: Religious Dissent and the hymn in England and Wales'' (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011), 95-123.

External links

Hymns from Rippon's Selection
* * * 1751 births 1836 deaths Burials at Bunhill Fields 18th-century hymnwriters 18th-century English Baptist ministers English hymnwriters Hymnal editors British evangelicals {{christianity-bio-stub