The great Christian hymn, Onward Christian Soldiers, which has been a mainstay in churches for decades, was written by an Anglican priest Sabine Baring-Gould. It was no doubt inspired by the biblical verse, Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:3
Baring -Gould was a brilliant scholar who lived in Victorian times, having been born in 1843 at Exeter, England. He was educated in France and Germany, concluding his studies at Clare College, Cambridge, England. Baring-Gould spoke six languages and was ordained a priest at the age of thirty.
Baring -Gould Pastorates in England
He was pastor of churches in Essex, Yorkshire and Devonshire, England. As well as being a priest, Baring-Gould was an archaeologist, teacher, artist and collector of English folk songs. He wrote 100 books, including a 16-volume Lives of the Saints. He died in 1924 at Lew Trenchard in Devonshire, where his home is now a hotel.
Onward, Christian Soldiers
This great Christian hymn was written in a hurry for marching children, or in Baring-Gould's own words:
It was written in a very simple fashion, without thought of publication. Whitmonday is a great day for school festivals in Yorkshire, and one Whitmonday it was arranged that our school should join forces with a neighboring village.
I wanted the children to sing while marching from one village to another, but couldn't think of anything quite suitable, so I sat up at night resolved to write something myself. Onward, Christian Soldiers was the result. It was written in great haste, likely in less than 15 minutes. ( Amazing Grace, by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel Publications, Page 30).
Baring-Gould's Onward, Christian Soldiers, was set to music by Sir Arthur Sullivan, of Gilbert and Sullivan fame.
Hymns by Sabine Baring-Gould
He wrote other hymns including Daily, Daily, Sing the Praises; Hail the sign, the Sign of Jesus and the beautiful Now the Day is Over. Baring-Gould was inspired to write this hymn for the children of his pastorate at Horbury Bridge, Wakefield, England. The text was Proverbs 3:24, When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid; yea, thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet.
The music to Now the Day is Over was written by Sir Joseph Barnby (1838-1896) ,an organist who studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He vied for the first Mendelssohn Scholarship with another student, Arthur Sullivan, and they tied. .After a second exam Sullivan came out the winner. It is interesting that both these composers set Baring-Gould's hymns to music.
Source
Amazing Grace by Kenneth W.Osbeck Kregel Publications
General Knowledge
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