Feast of Arthur Tozer Russell (November 18)

Above:  St. John’s College, Cambridge, England, Between 1890 and 1900

Published by Detroit Publishing Company, 1905

Image Source = Library of Congress

Reproduction Number = LC-DIG-ppmsc-08087

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ARTHUR TOZER RUSSELL (JUNE 20, 1806-NOVEMBER 18, 1874)

Anglican Priest and Hymn Writer

The Reverend Thomas Clout, a Congregationalist, edited versions of the theological works of others.  He also changed his surname to Russell.  And, at Northampton, England, his son, Arthur Tozer Russell, was born.  Our saint, a graduate of St. John’s College, Cambridge, took Anglican Holy Orders in 1829 and proceeded to serve a series of congregations I choose not to list here.  He, once a High Churchman, became a Low Churchman and a moderate Calvinist, one critical of both the Anglo-Catholic Tracts for the Times and the Broad Church Essays and Reviews.  Perhaps our saint’s reputation rests mainly–as it should–on his about 140 hymns–an impressive output.  I have added the texts of a few of those hymns at my GATHERED PRAYERS blog.

Christian piety comes in a variety of forms and schools of thought.  I, for example, have become a High-Broad Churchman, an Anglo-Lutheran-Catholic, to be precise.  This might change.  My thoughts regarding Christian piety are sufficiently broad, tolerant, and accepting to admit Low, Broad, and High churchmen and churchwomen alike too the Ecumenical Calendar of Saints’ Days and Holy Days with equal enthusiasm.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

JUNE 25, 2013 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, 1957

THE FEAST OF JAMES WELDON JOHNSON, POET AND NOVELIST

THE FEAST OF SAINT WILLIAM OF VERCELLI, ROMAN CATHOLIC HERMIT; AND SAINT JOHN OF MATERA, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBOT

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Dear God of beauty,

you have granted literary ability and spiritual sensitivity to

Arthur Tozer Russell and others, who have composed hymn texts.

May we, as you guide us,

find worthy hymn texts to be icons,

through which we see you.

In the Name of God:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 44:1-3a, 5-15

Psalm 147

Revelation 5:11-14

Luke 2:8-20

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

APRIL 20, 2013 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF SAINTS AMATOR OF AUXERRE AND GERMANUS OF AUXERRE, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS; SAINT MAMERTINUS OF AUXERRE, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBOT; AND SAINT MARCIAN OF AUXERRE, ROMAN CATHOLIC MONK

THE FEAST OF JOHANNES BUGENHAGEN, GERMAN LUTHERAN PASTOR

THE FEAST OF SAINT MARCELLINUS OF EMBRUN, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP

THE FEAST OF OLAVUS AND LAURENTIUS PETRI, RENEWERS OF THE CHURCH

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