St Peter’s Anglican Church

Thomas Ken - March 22

Bishop of Bath and Wells, Poet

Thomas Ken’s long life spanned a period of many changes in England and within the Church of England. He was born in 1637. In 1657 he became a fellow of New College, Oxford, and was a teacher at Winchester College from 1672. He was a man of real moral strength and devotion, whose commitment to God and the church was the foundation of his life. His well-known hymns, “Awake my soul and with the sun”, and “Glory to thee, my God, this night”, show the simple clarity of his faith. The doxology he appended to both hymns has been a source of inspiration to many.

In 1683 Thomas became chaplain to King Charles II. To a man of Thomas’ devout simplicity, the licentious court life was a painful experience, but he maintained his integrity, going so far as to refuse the king’s mistress, Nell Gwynne, the use of his house. Read more...