Born: April 29, 1751, Tiverton, Devon, England.

Died: December 17, 1836, Surrey, England.

Buried: Bunhill Fields Cemetery, London, England. Joseph Hart, Isaac Watts & John Bunyan lie nearby.

Rippon attended the Baptist College in Bristol, England. In 1775, he became pastor of the Carter’s Lane Baptist Church in London, where he served over six decades. He also edited the Baptist Annual Register for 12 years. In 1787, he published his famous A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended to Be an Appendix to Dr. Watts’ Psalms and Hymns, which was reprinted 27 times, in over 200,000 copies. He was considered the foremost authority on the hymns of Isaac Watts.

Hymns from Rippon’s Selections:

1. How Firm a Foundation
2. Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned
3. O Lord, I Will Delight in Thee
4. Praise the Savior, All Ye Nations
5. ’Tis Religion That Can Give