Born: June 16, 1806, Witley, Godalming, Surrey, England.

Died: July 1, 1876, Putney, Surrey, England.

Chandler was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1827. He took Holy Orders in 1831, and became vicar of Witley in 1837. He was one of the earliest and most successful translators of Latin hymns. His translations arose out of a desire to see the ancient prayers of the Anglican liturgy accompanied by hymns of a corresponding date of composition. In the preface to his Hymns of the Primitive Church, he said:

My attention was a short time ago directed to some translations [by Isaac Williams] which appeared from time to time in the British Magazine, very beautifully executed, of some hymns extracted from the Parisian Breviary, which originals annexed. Some indeed, of the Sapphic and Alcaic and other Horatian metres, seem to be of little value; but the rest, of the peculiar hymn-metre, Dimeter Iambics, appear ancient, simple, striking, and devotional—in a word in every way likely to answer our purpose. So I got a copy of the Parisian Breviary, and one or two other old books of Latin Hymns, especially one compiled by Georgius Cassander, printed at Cologne, in the year 1556, and regularly applied myself to the work of selection and translation. The result is the collection I now lay before the public.

Chandler’s works include:

• Hymns of the Primitive Church, Now First Collected, Translated, and Arranged, 1837
• The Hymns of the Church, Mostly Primitive, Collected, Translated, and Arranged for Public Use, 1841 (a republication and expansion of his 1837 work)
• Sermons and Tracts
• Life of William of Wykeham, 1842
• Horae Sacrae; Prayers and Meditations from the writings of the Divines of the Anglican Church, with an Introduction, 1844

Translations:

1. Advent of Our God, The
2. As Now the Sun’s Declining Rays
3. At Length Creation’s Days Are Past
   • Six Days of Labor Now Are Past
4. Conquering Kings Their Titles Take
5. Fish in Wave, the Bird on Wing, The
6. In Stature Grows the Heavenly Child
7. New Wonders of Thy Mighty Hand
8. O Happy Day, When First Was Poured
9. O Jesus, Lord of Heavenly Grace
10. O Scorned and Outcast Lord
11. On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry
12. Once More the Solemn Season Calls
13. Sing We the Glory of Our God
14. Today, O Lord, a Holier Work
15. What Star Is This, with Beams So Bright?