F.W. Faber’s Hymns

Frederick William Faber (1814–1863) is well-known as the author of hymns such as “Souls of Men, Why Will Ye Scatter?”, “Faith of Our Fathers”, and “My God, How Wonderful Thou Art”.

Faber was born in Calverley, Yorkshire, where his grandfather, Thomas Faber, was vicar of the local Anglican church. A large portion of his boyhood was spent in Westmorland, and he became a friend of William Wordsworth. Afterwards he went to Harrow and Balliol College, Oxford. By his mid-twenties he had given up the Calvinistic views of his youth, and had become an enthusiastic follower of John Henry Newman. After a lot of heart-searching he joined the Catholic Church in November 1845.

He founded St. Wilfrid’s, a religious community, at Cotton Hall in Birmingham. It later became the Oratory of St Philip Neri, with John Henry Newman as Superior. Faber presided over the London branch of the oratory until his death. He published a number of theological works, and edited the Oratorian Lives of the Saints. He was also an eloquent preacher, and a man of great charm of character. It is mainly as a hymn-writer, however, that Faber is remembered.

• Faber’ Hymns (538 KB)

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