Awake and Sing the Song

William Hammond (1719–1783) was a prominent eighteenth-century English hymn writer, translator, and member of the early Methodist and Moravian movements. Born in Battle, Sussex, on January 6, 1719, he received a classical education and graduated from St. John's College, Cambridge, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Hammond's early adulthood was marked by a deep spiritual restlessness, reflecting the intense religious revivals sweeping across Great Britain at the time.

In 1743, he joined the Calvinistic Methodists, working alongside influential revivalists like George Whitefield. His theological journey continued to evolve, leading him in 1745 to join the Moravian Brethren, a community known for its deep piety, communal devotion, and rich musical heritage. An eccentric and brilliant intellectual, Hammond left behind an extensive autobiography written entirely in classical Greek, which remains unpublished. He spent his later years in London, where he passed away on August 19, 1783, and was laid to rest in the historic Moravian burial ground on Sloane Street in Chelsea.

The 1745 Volume and Latin Translations

Hammond secured his place in hymnological history with the publication of his seminal 1745 collection, Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. The book was prefaced by an extensive theological essay detailing his views on faith, sanctification, and Christian joy.

Beyond his original English poetry, Hammond was a pioneer in the field of hymn translation. He was among the very first English writers since the seventeenth century to systematically translate ancient Latin office hymns into English verse. His translations were highly regarded for their poetic merit, scriptural fidelity, and earnestness, opening the door for later nineteenth-century translators like John Mason Neale to bring early church liturgy into Protestant congregational singing.

Classic Masterpieces of Congregational Worship

While Hammond wrote dozens of hymns, two specific pieces from his 1745 volume achieved massive, permanent success across multiple denominations, appearing in hundreds of hymnbooks worldwide.

1. "Awake, and Sing the Song"

This remains Hammond's most universally recognized lyric. Originally written to stir the hearts of early revival congregations, it invites believers to sing the "song of Moses and the Lamb." The text was later slightly altered and popularized by Martin Madan and John Wesley, becoming a staple opening hymn for more than two centuries in over five hundred major collections.

2. "Lord, We Come Before Thee Now"

Written specifically as an introductory prayer for public worship, this hymn captures Hammond's deeply rooted Moravian focus on collective humility and spiritual expectation. It functions as a poetic petition, asking that the congregation's hearts be made receptive to prayer, scripture, and instruction.

Hymn Excerpt: The Prayer for Worship

Lord, we come before Thee now, At Thy feet we humbly bow; O do not our suit disdain, Shall we seek Thee, Lord, in vain?

 

In Thine own appointed way, Now we seek Thee, here we stay; Lord, from hence we would not go, Till a blessing Thou bestow.

Summary of Core Hymnological Contributions