author
Augustus Toplady
1740–1778
Best known for the hymn "Rock of Ages," this 18th-century Anglican cleric packed a remarkable amount into a short life. His writing combined devotional warmth with sharp theological conviction, which helped keep his name alive long after his death.
1 Audiobook
Rock of Ages
by Augustus Toplady
About the author
Born in Farnham, Surrey, on November 4, 1740, Augustus Montague Toplady became an English Anglican cleric and hymn writer. He studied at Trinity College Dublin and was ordained in the Church of England, building a reputation as a preacher as well as a religious writer.
He is remembered above all as the author of the hymn "Rock of Ages," one of the best-known hymns in English. Toplady was also a strong Calvinist and a vocal opponent of John Wesley in the theological debates of his day, so his legacy includes both beloved devotional writing and vigorous religious controversy.
Toplady died on August 11, 1778, at only 37 years old. Even so, his hymns and other religious writings continued to circulate widely, and his name remains closely linked with the enduring appeal of "Rock of Ages."