Henry Allon

Henry Allon was born at Welton, near Hull, on October 18, 1818, and was educated at Cheshunt College, Hertfordshire. In 1844, he became co-pastor alongside the Reverend T. Lewis at Union Chapel, Islington, succeeding to the sole pastorate following Lewis's death in 1852. In 1865, Dr. Allon became co-editor of the British Quarterly Review alongside Dr. Reynolds, assuming sole editorship in 1877. His published prose works include Memoir of the Rev. J. Sherman (1863) and The Vision of God (1876).

As a hymn writer, Allon is known for "Low in Thine agony," a Passiontide hymn contributed to his Supplemental Hymns (1868, No. 24). His broader services to hymnody, particularly in church music, were highly influential within Nonconformist worship. He served as co-editor of the New Congregational Hymn Book (1859) and compiled several musical collections, most notably The Congregational Psalmist (1858) with Dr. H. J. Gauntlett, which expanded over several editions. His additional publications include Supplemental Hymns (1868; enlarged edition 1875), Children's Worship (1878), The Congregational Psalmist Hymnal (1886), as well as lectures and essays on church psalmody.