S. Dryden Phelps

Sylvanus Dryden Phelps (1816–1895) was an American Baptist minister, author, and hymnwriter born in Suffield, Connecticut, on May 15, 1816. He received his higher education at Brown University, graduating in 1844, and subsequently entered the ministry. In 1846, he was appointed pastor of the First Baptist Church in New Haven, Connecticut. Beyond his pastoral duties, Dr. Phelps was heavily involved in religious publishing, serving as the editor of the Hartford-based publication, The Christian Secretary. His literary output extended past the pulpit into poetry and books, publishing titles such as Eloquence of Nature, and Other Poems (1842), Sunlight and Hearthlight (1856), and The Poet's Song (1867).

Dr Phelps is widely recognised for his prolific contributions to hymnology, having authored numerous pieces that have found long-lasting use in various denominational hymnals. His most celebrated and popular hymn, "Saviour, Thy dying love" (originally written in 1862 and published in the Watchman and Reflector), was set to music by Dr. Robert Lowry in the collection Pure Gold and eventually translated into multiple languages, including Swedish.

Throughout his life, his hymns touched on varied themes ranging from baptism and trust in God to social issues of his day. His early work in 1841 included temperance hymns like "Father, from Thy throne above" and "When over our land hung oppression's dark pall." He also contributed widely used pieces to J. Aldrich's Sacred Lyre (1858), such as "Sweet is the hour of prayer" and "Sweet Sunday-school! I love the place." Many of his compositions, including "Did Jesus weep for me?" and "Once I heard a sound at my heart's dark door," arose from deep personal or pastoral moments—such as "Come, trembling soul, be not afraid," which he penned to comfort a struggling sick man he had visited. Dr. Phelps passed away in 1895, leaving behind a rich legacy of American sacred music.