In the Cross of Christ I Glory

John Bowring was born at Exeter in Devon, England, on October 17, 1792. He was considered to be one of the most remarkable men of his day as well as one of the greatest linguists who ever lived. He was a member of nearly every learned society in Europe. Before he was sixteen years of age he had mastered five languages without the aid of a teacher. It is said that he could converse in over 100 different languages before his death. He was a prolific writer on the subjects of politics, economics, and religion as well as the author of many poems and hymns, including the rather familiar missionary hymn, “Watchman, Tell Us of the Night.” Yet despite his many accomplishments, including thirty-six volumes of published works, John Bowring is known today primarily as the author of this simply stated hymn text. On his tombstone are inscribed the words of this hymn, “In the Cross of Christ I Glory.”

The writing of the tune in 1851 by Ithamar Conkey is also interesting. He as the organist and choir master at the Central Baptist Church of Norwich, Connecticut. One Sunday during the Lenten season of that year, Conkey was disappointed when only one choir member appeared for the morning service, a faithful soprano by the name of Mrs. Beriah S. Rathbun. Conkey was so displeased and irritated with his choir’s unfaithfulness that he left the service in disgust immediately after playing the prelude. That afternoon he thought with remorse of the service that he had left and recalled on of the hymns to have been used, John Bowring’s text, “In the Cross of Christ I Glory,” sung to a dull and obsolete tune. Before the evening service Conkey composed a new tune for this text and named it after his one faithful choir member, Mrs. Rathbun. He confessed later that, “the inspiration that came to me at that moment was vivid contrast to my feelings at the morning service.