Horatius Bonar

Horatius Bonar ( born December 19, 1808, Horace Bonar, † May 31, 1889, both in Edinburgh) was a Scottish clergyman and poet.

Life

Horace grew up as the son of James Bonar on Solicitors in Edinburgh. From 1838-1866 he worked as a Presbyterian Minister - First Church of Scotland, after the schism of 1843 the Free Church of Scotland - Kelso, then again in Edinburgh. In 1843 he married Jane Catherine Lundie, who died in 1884. The marriage sprang numerous children. In 1853 he received the title of Honorary Doctor of the University of Edinburgh in Aberdeen. Bonar is buried in the courtyard of the Edinburgh Church Kirk of the Canongate.

Work

In addition to his work as author of several nonfiction and writers for various Christian publications ( The Quarterly journal of Prophecy from 1848 to 1873 and Christian Treasury 1859-1879 ) Bonar has remained primarily on his hymns in memory. Some of these have become famous throughout the English-speaking world.

Hymns (selection)

• Fill thou my life, O Lord, my God
• I heard the voice of Jesus say
• Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power
• Thy way, not mine, O Lord
• A few more years Shall roll
• Come Lord and tarry not

Anthologies of his works

• Hymns of Faith and Hope ( 3 volumes)
• Hymns of the Nativity
• Selected Hymns
• My Old Letters

He also wrote biographies of the clergy John Milne and GT Dodds (the latter was his son and died in 1882 in France).