author
Samuel Willoughby Duffield
1843–1887
A 19th-century Presbyterian minister, hymn scholar, and writer, he is remembered for bringing the stories behind English and Latin hymns to life. His work helped ordinary readers see hymn history as something lively, human, and deeply connected to worship.
1 Audiobook
The Latin Hymn-writers and Their Hymns
by Samuel Willoughby Duffield
About the author
Born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 24, 1843, he graduated from Yale in 1863 and went on to enter the Presbyterian ministry. He served several churches, including a pastorate in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and became known not only as a clergyman but also as a thoughtful literary worker with a strong interest in hymnody.
He wrote under the pen name Anselmus and is best known for books such as English Hymns, Their Authors and History and The Latin Hymn-Writers and Their Hymns. His writing combined scholarship with an accessible style, helping readers understand the people, history, and devotion behind well-known sacred songs.
He died on May 12, 1887, at just 43 years old. Though his life was short, his books remained useful to later readers, especially anyone interested in hymn writers, church history, and the background of classic Christian hymn texts.