Day Four: O Happy Day

Wednesday is going to be the day for the next eight weeks when our Life-Light reflection is shaped by a hymn or carol. Over the next four weeks by the themes of Forgiveness, Creation, Justice and Thankfulness, and the final four weeks by the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.

For our opening hymn I’ve chosen a work by one of the greats of our Congregational heritage, Philip Doddridge. Born in London on 26th June 1702 his grandfather was one of the ministers ejected from his living following the Act of Uniformity in 1662. He was a very talented young man, who was offered the opportunity by the Duchess of Bedford to have a University training for ordination in the Church of England. However, he turned this down to study under Mr Jennings at the Dissenting Academy at Kibworth in Leicestershire. I remember having a very fascinating conversation many years ago with Harold Wright, who was pastor at Kibworth Congregational Church at the time, about Doddridge’s connection with Kibworth – at the Academy and as Minister of the church himself.

From there Philip Doddridge moved onto Northampton and to a ministry that lasted for over twenty years until ill health brought it to a premature end. He was engaged in academic and pastoral work, and highly regarded for both. He was Principal of the Northampton Academy, where the wide range of subjects, including daily readings in Hebrew and Greek, Algebra, Trigonometry, Watts' Logic, outline of Philosophy and Divinity is great proof of his vast learning. His sermons were both thoughtful and practical, and often accompanied by hymns he had written himself to illustrate their theme. He was a good friend of Isaac Watts.

One of the hymns he wrote was O happy day that fixed my choice. This was originally set to the tune Festus by Johann Freylinghausen, and in Congregational Praise was in the section The Life of Discipleship: Response to the Gospel.

So how has this now appeared in a theme dealing with forgiveness? Well in 1854 Edward Rimbault wrote a new tune for this hymn, and a chorus to go with it, introducing the line – when Jesus washed my sins away!

O happy day, o happy day,

When Jesus washed my sins away!

He taught me how to watch and pray,

And live rejoicing ev'ry day;

O happy day, o happy day,

When Jesus washed my sins away.

In 1967 Edwin Hawkins wrote and released a new version based solely on Rimbault’s chorus which has been a best selling song all over the world. It has been covered by Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Susan Boyle and even appeared in the film Sister Act with Whoopi Goldberg! In our version today it is sung by Etta James.

Philip Doddridge’s original words are reproduced below:

O happy day that fixed my choice

On Thee, my Saviour and my God!

Well may this glowing heart rejoice,

And tell its raptures all abroad.

'Tis done– the great transaction's done;

I am my Lord's, and He is mine;

He drew me and I followed on,

Rejoicing in the call divine.

Now rest, my long divided heart,

Fixed on this blissful centre, rest;

Here have I found a nobler part,

Here heav'nly pleasures fill my breast.

High heav'n that hears the solemn vow,

That vow renewed shall daily hear;

Till in life's latest hour I bow,

And bless, in death, a bond so dear.