Henry Twells

Rev. Canon Henry Twells (1823–1900) was an Anglican clergyman, hymn writer and poet. His best known hymn was "At Even, Ere the Sun Was Set", which was put to music by George Joseph, whose tune Angelus was first printed in 1657. A younger brother, Edward Twells, was the first Bishop of Bloemfontein.

Life Henry Twells was the son of Philip Mellor Twells, born in Ashted, Birmingham on 13 March 1823. He went to school at King Edward's School, Birmingham and then to Peterhouse, University of Cambridge, from where he graduated B.A. in 1848 and M.A. in 1851. On 25 May 1875, he married Ellen Jane Tompson, daughter of the Rev. Matthew Carrier Tompson, for fifty years Vicar of Alderminster, near Stratford-on-Avon. He died in Bournemouth on 19 January 1900.

Career 1849 - Ordained as deacon at Rochester Cathedral. 1850 - Ordained as priest in the Church of England. 1849-1851 - Curate in Berkhamsted and then 1851-1854 - Curate at the parish church of Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon. 1854-1856 - Master of St. Andrew's House School in Mells, Somerset. 1856-1870 - Headmaster of Godolphin School, Hammersmith, London. 1870-1871 - Rector of Baldock, Hertfordshire. 1871-1890 - Rector of Waltham on the Wolds, Lincolnshire. 1884 - Appointed as Honorary Canon of Peterborough Cathedral. 1890 - 'Semi-retired' in Bournemouth where he commissioned the building of St. Augustin's church dedicated to St. Augustine of Hippo and he remained 'priest-in-charge' there till his death.