Worship is one of the most powerful ways we can express gratitude to God. While Scripture should always be our primary source of encouragement and comfort, music has a unique ability to minister to our hearts. Songs often stir our emotions, awaken our memories, and anchor us in moments of both joy and sorrow. Hymns, in particular, have carried generations of believers through trials and triumphs, leaving a lasting impact on Christian worship.
One of the most enduring examples is The Doxology, written by Thomas Ken, a 17th-century bishop. Thomas Ken was born in 1637 in England. His parents both died during his childhood, and he grew up under the guardianship of his sister Ann and her husband Izaak Walton.
Thomas Ken became one of the most influential figures in the Church of England, but it’s his devotion to both his faith and integrity that sets him apart. Thomas Ken wasn’t just a hymn writer—he was also a man who stood up for what he believed in, even when it cost him everything.
In 1684, Thomas Ken was appointed Bishop of Bath and Wells. He was known for his moral courage, once refusing to let King Charles II have a mistress in his residence. Thomas Ken declared his house under repair and had a builder take off the roof!
Thomas Ken lived in a turbulent time, during the reigns of both King Charles II and James II. Thomas Ken was one of the so-called ‘Seven Bishops’ who opposed King James II’s Declaration of Indulgence in 1688, which promoted religious tolerance for Catholics. For his refusal to comply, Thomas Ken was imprisoned in the Tower of London.
Though he was later acquitted, this stance cost him his bishopric when William of Orange ascended to the throne. Thomas Ken spent the remaining years of his life in relative obscurity, living in retirement in a home provided by a friend, Lord Weymouth, at Longleat in Somerset.”
But even in his later years, Thomas Ken remained committed to his faith. He continued to write and pray, always centering his life around God’s glory. When he passed away in 1711, he requested to be buried by six of the poorest men in the parish, a final act of humility from a man whose life was marked by devotion and service.
Thomas Ken had a quieter but equally powerful influence on worship. He wrote hymns to guide students at Winchester College in their daily prayers. These hymns, including Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun and Glory to Thee, My God, This Night, were meant to be sung in the morning and evening. And at the end of each of these hymns was a familiar refrain—what we now know as The Doxology.”
Here are the words:
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Thomas Ken
Centuries later, Thomas Ken’s words continue to echo in churches around the world, uniting believers across cultures and traditions in praise. His story challenges us to live with integrity and faith, while calling us to continual praise. May his legacy inspire us to worship God not only with our songs but with lives marked by faithfulness and thanksgiving.
References
Hymnary.org
101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck (1982)
