Isaac Watts

Born in Southampton in 1674, Isaac Watts became one of the most influential hymn writers in the English language. A Congregational minister, theologian, and poet, he is widely remembered for bringing a more personal and expressive style to English hymn singing at a time when much church music relied heavily on formal psalm versions.

Watts wrote hundreds of hymns, including texts that later became especially famous such as When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Our God, Our Help in Ages Past, and the words behind Joy to the World. Alongside his religious writing, he also published works on logic, education, and devotion, showing how wide his interests were.

He died in 1748, but his writing continued to travel far beyond his own century. For many readers, his lasting appeal comes from the clarity of his language: thoughtful, heartfelt, and meant to be sung, remembered, and lived with.