Isaac Watts is known as the founder of modern English hymnology, so called because he was the first to compose divine poetry specifically to be sung. Prior to his time only the Psalms were sung in Protestant churches. Watts also used the Psalms as a basis for Christian hymns in his The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament (1719), which included two of his most famous works, Oh God Our Help in Ages Past (Psalm 90) and Jesus Shall Reign (Psalm 72).
His first collection of hymns, published in 1707, was called Hymns and Spiritual Songs, and contained his best-known composition, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. Divine and Moral Songs For the Use of Children appeared in 1720, making him the first to publish children’s hymns. Other works included Horae Lyracae, a book of Christian poems. He also wrote on logic, astronomy, theology, geography, English grammar and education. In addition, Watts was one of the best preachers of his time, and he produced three volumes of discourses. Watts was in frail health all his life and never married. He was educated in a dissenter’s academy at Stoke Newington just north of London, and he eventually became pastor of a Congregational church on Mark Lane off Fenchurch Street. From 1712 until his death he lived at the country mansion of St Thomas and Lady Abney, and here most of his works were written.
He was buried in Bunhill Fields and a medallion with his likeness was placed in Westminster Abbey. In 1845 an imposing monument was erected in his memory in Abney Park Cemetery on the site of Abney House. Dr Samuel Johnson said of him, ‘Such he was, as every Christian church would rejoice to have adopted’