Edward Perronet

Full Name: Edward Perronet
Birth/Death: 1721–1792

Edward Perronet was the son of the Rev. Vincent Perronet, Vicar of Shoreham, Kent. Born into a devout family of French Protestant descent, Edward was educated at home under a tutor and originally intended to enter the Church of England clergy. He became closely associated with John and Charles Wesley, contributing actively to the Evangelical Revival in England. Despite his respect for Wesley, Perronet often acted independently, advocating for administering the Sacraments and preaching where he felt called, which occasionally brought him into tension with Methodist authorities.

Perronet later became pastor of a dissenting congregation and spent much of his life in Canterbury, residing in part of the archbishop’s old palace. He was a passionate and strong-willed preacher, devoted to evangelism and spiritual instruction. He died on January 2, 1792, and was buried in the cloisters of Canterbury Cathedral on January 8.

A prolific hymn-writer, Perronet published several small volumes, including Select Passages of the Old and New Testament Versified (1756), A Small Collection of Hymns (1782), and Occasional Verses, Moral and Sacred (1785). His most famous hymn, All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name, first appeared as the third hymn in the latter volume. Other notable works include The Lord is King (Psalm 96:16), The Master’s Yoke—the Scholar’s Lesson (Matthew 11:29), and Thoughts on Hebrews 12. Perronet’s hymns are celebrated for their poetic craftsmanship, scriptural depth, and devotional fervor, often blending theological precision with lyrical beauty.