author
Edwin Hatch
1835–1889
An English theologian and hymn writer, he is remembered both for the beloved hymn "Breathe on Me, Breath of God" and for influential lectures that explored how Greek thought shaped the early Christian church.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Derby, England, on September 4, 1835, Edwin Warren Hatch became a respected scholar of early Christianity and the history of the church. He studied at Pembroke College, Oxford, and went on to build a career that combined academic work, teaching, and ministry.
Hatch spent part of his career in Canada before returning to Oxford, where he served as Vice-Principal of St Mary Hall and became known for his learning in theology and classics. He is best known for The Influence of Greek Ideas and Usages upon the Christian Church, a book based on his 1888 Hibbert Lectures and published after his death.
Many readers also know him through hymnody rather than scholarship: he wrote the text of the much-loved hymn Breathe on Me, Breath of God. He died in Oxford on November 10, 1889, leaving behind work that continued to shape both religious study and worship.