Dorothy Ann Thrupp

Dorothy Ann Thrupp was born today in 1779 in London and died in 1847. Hardly anything more is known of her life, but fortunately we know just a bit more about her work.

Her earliest hymns appeared in two magazines published by the Reverend William Carus Williams, The Children's Friend and The Friendly Visitor. Later, some of her hymns (credited to D.A.T.) were published in Selection of Hymns and Poetry for the use of Infant Schools and Nurseries, compiled by Mrs. Herbert Mayo (1838). She produced two hymnbooks of her own, Hymns for the Young (1830) and Thoughts for the Day (1837). Most, but not all, of her hymns were written for children. This one originally appeared in the children's section of many nineteenth-century hymnals, but t0day it is sung by everyone.

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need thy tender care;
In thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use thy folds prepare.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.

We are thine, do thou befriend us,
Be the guardian of our way;
Keep thy flock, from sin defend us,
Seek us when we go astray.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus!
Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus!
Hear, O hear us when we pray.

Thou hast promised to receive us,
Lost and helpless though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us,
Grace to heal and power to free.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus!
Early let us turn to thee.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus!
Early let us turn to thee.

Early let us seek thy favor,
Early let us do thy will;
Blessèd Friend and only Savior,
With thy love our bosoms fill.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus!
Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus!
Thou hast loved us, love us still.

attr. Dorothy Ann Thrupp, 1836; alt.
Tune: BRADBURY (8.7.8.7.D.)
William B. Bradbury, 1859

This hymn apparently first appeared in a later edition of Hymns for the Young. Unfortunately, under Thrupp's editorship, none of the hymns in that book were credited to an author, and thus sometimes this hymn is credited to the ubiquitous Anonymous. In several older hymnals it was even said to have been written by Henry Francis Lyte, though no one today thinks that Lyte wrote it.

This tune by William B. Bradbury is generally used in the US, but some people also know this text better to the familiar SICILIAN MARINERS.

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