Isaac Watts
July 17, 1674 – November 25, 1748
Hymn Writer & Theologian
Father of English Hymnody — 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross'
Biography
English Congregationalist minister known as the 'Father of English Hymnody.' He transformed congregational singing by writing hymns that expressed personal devotion rather than simply paraphrasing psalms. He wrote over 750 hymns including 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,' 'Joy to the World,' and 'O God, Our Help in Ages Past.'
Faith & Testimony
Watts was a committed Nonconformist who suffered for his dissenting beliefs, being barred from attending Oxford or Cambridge. His hymns are saturated with Reformed theology — 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross' is considered one of the greatest hymns ever written. He also wrote catechisms for children and theological works on logic that were used at universities for over a century.