Publisher's Synopsis
William Henry Gladstone (1840-1892) was a British Liberal Party Member of Parliament, and the eldest son of Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone. He was born in Hawarden, Flintshire. He attended Eton College and read Greek and Latin at Christ Church, Oxford University. He was a Member of Parliament for a total of 20 years, representing Chester for three, Whitby for 12 and East Worcestershire for five. A singer and organist, he was well versed in musical history, especially the development of Anglican church music. He wrote on musical topics, and one of the views he expressed was that choral church services were to be deplored because "the choirs often discourage the congregations from singing." He wrote the anthems "Gracious and Righteous" and "Withdraw Not Thou," and chants, anthems, introits and organ voluntaries. He composed the hymn tune Hammersmith which can be used for the hymn Dear Lord and Father of Mankind. "Hawarden, in Flintshire, lies 6 miles West of Chester, at a height of 250 feet, overlooking a large tract of Cheshire and the Estuary of the Dee."
