author
W. J. (William John) Sparrow-Simpson
1859–1952
An Anglican priest, hymn writer, and prolific religious author, he is best remembered for writing the libretto for John Stainer’s oratorio The Crucifixion. His long career joined parish ministry, scholarship, and a steady stream of books on Christian history and doctrine.
2 Audiobooks
Views of St. Paul's Cathedral, London
by W. J. (William John) Sparrow-Simpson
Roman Catholic opposition to Papal Infallibility
by W. J. (William John) Sparrow-Simpson
About the author
Born in London in 1859, William John Sparrow-Simpson was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and went on to become an English Anglican priest and writer. He was ordained in 1882, served in several London parishes, and later became closely associated with Ilford, where he spent decades as chaplain of the Hospital Chapel.
He wrote widely on theology, church history, and devotion, producing more than fifty books over the course of his life. Many readers also know his work through church music: he wrote the libretto for John Stainer’s 1887 oratorio The Crucifixion and also contributed hymn texts.
Sparrow-Simpson lived until 1952, leaving behind the record of a long clerical life shaped by scholarship, pastoral work, and a gift for clear religious writing. His books reflect the habits of a learned churchman who wanted serious Christian ideas to remain accessible to ordinary readers.