Isaac Watts is considered to be the father of the English Hymn as well as one of the greatest hymn writers of all time composing more hymns in popular use than any other man except possibly Charles Wesley.

Isaac born in 1674, was the fearless son of an equally fearless Nonconformist father. In 1662 when the Act of Conformity was passed, Isaac’s father (also named Isaac) was imprisoned along with many of the two thousand ministers who were ejected from the Church of England for refusing to conform to the laws of the land relating to the worship of God. Some years later, he would pen a well-known hymn expressing the attitude of those who faced such persecution:

"I’m not ashamed to own my Lord, Or to defend His cause;
Maintain the honour of His Word, The glory of His cross."

On one occasion during family prayers Isaac showed his poetic skill. While they were at prayer Isaac was heard to titter. His father demanded the cause of his merriment.

"Because," he replied, pointing to the bell-rope by the fireplace, "I saw a mouse run up that and the thought came into my mind:

In 1694 when Isaac was twenty, he returned home to Southampton from a Nonconformist Academy in London, and joined in worship in a local chapel. The hymn book in use in this chapel was one edited by the Rev. W. Barton, a Nonconformist minister of Leicester, and was one of the first collection of hymns, as distinct from psalms, in the English language. The young worshipper, however, was very dissatisfied with the hymns contained in this book, and went so far as to make a complaint about them, upon which he was challenged to produce anything better. Quite unabashed, he accepted the challenge and set to work to compose a hymn himself, the first of an enormous series of such compositions which were destined to enrich the whole Church of God.

His first hymn was founded upon the fifth chapter of the Book of the Revelation, beginning, “Behold the glories of the Lamb.” This hymn proved so acceptable to the congregation that he was requested to write more, which he did during the two years he remained at home, the hymns being written out and sung in the chapel from manuscript (one per week). Among them was the hymn commencing “There is a land of pure delight,” which is said to have been suggested by the view across Southampton Water.

Isaac’s hymn-writing stemmed from his dissatisfaction with the practice at the time of singing versified translations of the Psalms. He wanted the psalms and hymns to convey a distinctly Christian message to the churchgoers of his time.

Thus. Psalm 72, in his version, became "Jesus shall reign, where’re the sun." The words of Psalm 98 became "Joy to the world."

Watts died on Nov. 25, 1748 at the age of seventy-four. Still today, in his native Southampton, he is recalled every four hours when the clock in the Civic Centre chimes the tune of ‘0 God Our Help in Ages Past’.

Ugly Isaac
Though he had a beautiful soul, apparently Isaac Watts was not much to look at. He was frail and often sickly. His head seemed too large for his five foot tall body; his small, piercing eyes and hooked nose did not enhance his appearance any. A lady once fell in love with Isaac by reading his poetry and a correspondence ensued. When she met him face to face, however, she was very disillusioned, though he fell in love with her. He asked her to marry him, but her reply was, "Mr. Watts, I only wish I could admire the casket (jewellery box) as much as I admire the jewel." Watts never married, though the two remained good friends for over 30 years.

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