William Chatterton Dix (14 June 1837 – 9 September 1898) was an English writer of

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...

s and carols. He was born in

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

, the son of John Dix, a local surgeon, who wrote ''The Life of Chatterton'' the poet, a book of ''Pen Pictures of Popular English Preachers'' and other works.James Moffatt, ''Handbook to the Church Hymnary'', Oxford University Press, 1927 His father gave him his middle name in honour of

Thomas Chatterton Thomas Chatterton (20 November 1752 – 24 August 1770) was an English poet whose precocious talents ended in suicide at age 17. He was an influence on Romantic artists of the period such as Shelley, Keats, Wordsworth and Coleridge. Althoug ...

, a poet about whom he had written a biography. He was educated at the Grammar School, Bristol, for a mercantile career, and became manager of a maritime insurance company in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

where he spent most of his life.James Moffatt, ''Handbook to the Church Hymnary'', Oxford University Press, 1927, p. 318 Tomb of William Chatterdon Dix, St

His original hymns are found in most modern hymn-books. He wrote also felicitous renderings in metrical form of

Richard Frederick Littledale Richard Frederick Littledale (1833–1890) was an Anglo-Irish clergyman and writer. Life The fourth son of John Littledale, an auctioneer, he was born in Dublin on 14 September 1833. On 15 October 1850 he entered Trinity College Dublin, was elec ...

's translations from the Greek in his ''Offices of the Holy Eastern Church''; and of Rodwell's translations of Abyssinian hymns. Some of his carols, such a
''The Manger Throne''
have been very popular. His hymns and carols also include ''

As with Gladness Men of Old "As with Gladness Men of Old" is an Epiphany hymn, written by William Chatterton Dix on 6 January 1859 (Epiphany) while he was ill in bed. Though considered by many as a Christmas carol, it is found in the Epiphany section of many hymnals and sti ...

'', ''

What Child Is This? "What Child Is This?" is a Christmas carol with lyrics written by William Chatterton Dix in 1865 and set to the tune of " Greensleeves", a traditional English folk song, in 1871. Although written in Great Britain, the carol today is more popul ...

'', ''To You, O Lord, Our Hearts We Raise'' and ''Alleluia! Sing to Jesus''. At the age of 29 he was struck with a near fatal illness and consequently suffered months confined to his bed. During this time he became severely depressed. Yet it is from this period that many of his hymns date.John Telford (1934) ''The new Methodist hymn-book illustrated in history and experience'' He died at

Cheddar Cheddar most often refers to either: *Cheddar cheese *Cheddar, Somerset, the village after which Cheddar cheese is named Cheddar may also refer to: Places * Cheddar, Ontario, Canada * Cheddar Yeo, a river which flows through Cheddar Gorge and t ...

Somerset, England ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...

, and was buried at his parish church. His children included writer Gertrude Dix.

References

External links

* * * Writers from Bristol 1837 births 1898 deaths English composers English hymnwriters Christian hymnwriters Burials in Somerset 19th-century English musicians {{UK-composer-stub