Henry Twells

Rev. Canon Henry Twells (1823–1900) was an Anglican clergyman, hymn writer and poet. His best known hymn was "At Even, Ere the Sun Was Set".[1] He also wrote the well-known poem, "Time's Paces" that depicts the apparent speeding up of time as we become older.[2] A younger brother, Edward Twells, was the first Bishop of Bloemfontein.

Henry Twells
This photograph appears in the frontispiece of Ingram's biography of Twells[1]
Born	(1823-03-13)13 March 1823 Ashted, Birmingham, UK
Died	19 January 1900(1900-01-19) (aged 76) Bournemouth, Dorset, UK
Occupation	Clergyman Hymn-writer Poet
Nationality	English
Genre	Hymns, Poems
Notable works	"At Even, Ere the Sun Was Set"; "Time's Paces"
Spouse	Ellen Jane Tompson

St. Augustin's Church, Bournemouth

Life

Henry Twells was the son of Philip Mellor Twells, born in Ashted, Birmingham on 13 March 1823. He went to school at King Edward's School, Birmingham and then to Peterhouse, University of Cambridge, from where he graduated B.A. in 1848 and M.A. in 1851. On 25 May 1875, he married Ellen Jane Tompson, daughter of the Rev. Matthew Carrier Tompson, for fifty years Vicar of Alderminster, near Stratford-on-Avon.[3][4] He died in Bournemouth on 19 January 1900.[5]

Career

• 1849 - Ordained as deacon at Rochester Cathedral.
• 1850 - Ordained as priest in the Church of England.
• 1849-1851 - Curate in Berkhamsted and then
• 1851-1854 - Curate at the parish church of Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon.[6]
• 1854-1856 - Master of St. Andrew's House School in Mells, Somerset.
• 1856-1870 - Headmaster of Godolphin School, Hammersmith, London.
• 1870-1871 - Rector of Baldock, Hertfordshire.
• 1871-1890 - Rector of Waltham on the Wolds, Lincolnshire.[7]
• 1884 - Appointed as Honorary Canon of Peterborough Cathedral.
• 1890 - 'Semi-retired' in Bournemouth where he commissioned the building of St. Augustin's church[8] dedicated to St. Augustine of Hippo and he remained 'priest-in-charge' there till his death.[5]

Publications

• Poetry for Repetition. Edited by Rev. Henry Twells, M.A. Head Master of the Godolphin Foundation School, Hammersmith. London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, 1862
• Hymnal Oratorio, The Apostle of the Gentiles: Being the life and writings of St Paul, as illustrated by Hymns Ancient and Modern, and interspersed with recitations from Holy Scripture, etc. London: Clowes & Sons, 1881.
• Hymnal Oratorio, The Forerunner: Being the life and teaching of John the Baptist, as illustrated by Hymns Ancient and Modern, and interspersed with recitations from Holy Scripture. In two parts. Arranged by Henry Twells. London: William Clowes & Sons, 1886.
• Extension of the Diaconate. A speech delivered in the Lower House of the Convocation of Canterbury, etc. London: Rivingtons, 1887.
• Colloquies on Preaching. London: Longmans & Co., 1889.
• Hymns and Other Stray Verses. London: Wells Gardner, Darton & Co, 1901.
• Sermons on Hymns, and Other Addresses. London: Wells Gardner & Co., [1901].
• Bible Characters, and Other Addresses. London: Wells Gardner & Co., 1905.[9]

References

1. http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/t/w/twells_h.htm
2. Henry Twells, Hymns and Other Stray Verses, London: Wells Gardner & Co., 1901, p. 34.
3. William Clavell Ingram, Dean of Peterborough. A Memoir of the Rev Henry Twells, London: Wells Gardner & Co., [1901], Ch. III, p. 57. The spelling of 'Tompson' is confirmed by death certificates, marriage certificates available in www.ancestry.com.
4. "Twells, Henry (TWLS844H)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
5. Heywood, Joy. "The Twells Family". Saint Mary Magdalene Church, Enfield. Archived from the original on 7 June 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
6. Ingram, A Memoir of the Rev. Henry Twells, Ch. I, p. 12.
7. "SaveOurSpire.org.uk » Church history". saveourspire.org.uk.
8. "St Augustin's Church - Who We Are". Bournemouth Town Centre Parish.
9. "The British Library". The British Library.

Further reading

• William Clavell Ingram, Dean of Peterborough. A Memoir of the Rev Henry Twells, London: Wells Gardner & Co., [1901].