God is in his temple

William Matson’s hymn echoes both Psalm 11:4 and Habakkuk 2:20. It is also reminiscent of Tersteegen’s Gott ist gegenwärtig, which John Wesley paraphrased as Lo! God is here (see 240), and which later gave rise to the composite God reveals his presence. Matson presumably knew this latter hymn and followed it in retaining its distinctive metre. Though not so widely known as his earlier 690, it has retained its popularity among Free Churches, and at the start of the present century appeared in some 10 books in current use.

The tune GRÖNINGEN, named from the small German town near Magdeburg or from that in the Netherlands, is older than any of these words. It has been called REVERENCE or ARNSBERG, or named from the original German opening words. It was published in Joachim Neander’s 1680 collection of 56 hymn tunes, with a title meaning ‘The A to Z [or ABC] of Faith and Love’. It is set there in the key of C to Wunderbarer König, in an arrangement and rhythm which have been somewhat varied since then.

b W Hackney, London 1833, d Portsea, Hants 1899. Named after his godfather, the leading QC Wm Tidd, he was educated privately under the Rev J M Gould, then at St John’s Coll Cambridge and the Agricultural and Chemical Coll, Kennington, Surrey (SE London). An Anglican who after a notable spiritual renewal embraced first Methodism (New Connexion, 1853) then Congregationalism, in 1857 he trained for the ministry at Cotton End Academy (Institute) near Bedford, and was ordained in 1860 to a pastorate in Havant, Hants. He later served for 9 years at Gosport Old Meeting (now Bury Rd Church); then at Highbury Chapel, Portsmouth; Stratford (E London); Rothwell (Northants); and Sarisbury Green (nr Fareham, Hants) from 1885 to his retirement in 1897. The new chapel there was named the ‘William Tidd Matson Memorial Church’. He was an enthusiast for Sunday Schools, and president of the Portsmouth Sunday Sch Union in 1880, a year in which the centenary of the movement was celebrated. He published 9 volumes of (mainly) verse, 1857–1894, from A Summer Evening Review to The Poetical Works of W Tidd Matson. Several of his hymn texts were written to be sung to German chorale tunes, but his most enduring texts are the products of his earlier years. ‘Somewhat lacking in lyric energy’ but still ‘far above the average’ is W Garrett Horder’s reluctant commendation in Julian. 5 texts find a place in the 1951 Congregational Praise; several books still have 2 of these, but only his best-known hymn seems to have been much appreciated in N America. Nos.156, 690.