Hymn Story: The King of Love My Shepherd Is

The King of Love My Shepherd Is was written by Henry W. Baker.

Baker was born in London, England in 1821. He took Holy Orders in 1844 and he wrote many hymns. One of his earliest compositions was the very beautiful hymn, “Oh! what if we are Christ’s”.

His hymns are described as “simplicity of language, smoothness of rhythm, and earnestness of utterance”.

“The last audible words which lingered on his dying lips were the third stanza of his exquisite rendering of the 23rd Psalm, “The King of Love, my Shepherd is:”—

Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His Shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.”

He died on Feb. 12, 1877.

The tune is attributed to St. Columba.

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