Eliza Sibbald Alderson

Eliza Sibbald Alderson, née Dykes, was an English hymnwriter born in 1818. She was the granddaughter of the Reverend Thomas Dykes of Hull and the sister of the prominent church composer and minister Reverend Dr. John Bacchus Dykes. In 1850, she married the Reverend W. T. Alderson, who served for a time as chaplain to the West Riding House of Correction in Wakefield.

Mrs. Alderson is best remembered for two significant hymns contributed to nineteenth-century Anglican worship, both set to tunes composed by her brother:

1. "And now, beloved Lord, Thy soul resigning" (Passiontide): Written in 1868 at the request of Dr. Dykes, this six-stanza Passion hymn offers a solemn reflection on Christ's death. Four stanzas were included in the 1875 revised edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern accompanied by Dr. Dykes's tune Commendatio, while Godfrey Thring restored the full original text in his 1882 collection.

2. "Lord of glory, Who hast bought us" (Almsgiving): Written in 1864 and published in the 1868 Appendix to Hymns Ancient and Modern, this hymn was inspired by Mrs. Alderson's deep personal conviction that tithing one's income was a sacred obligation to God and the poor. Set to Dr. Dykes's tune Charitas, it became a standard selection for stewardship services.