Reginald Heber, scholar of Brasenose College and fellow of All Souls, Anglican country rector and bishop of Calcutta, who died when only 42, was born on this date in 1783. Two lines from his Missionary hymn, "though every prospect pleases, And only man is vile" are seen as allusion even where his name is unfamiliar, but he deserves to be known to a wider public as the author of several hymns of the first rank.

Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning, originally written for the Feast of the Epiphany, speaks of the offerings of the Magi, wonders what best we might bring as gift, and ends in beauty and comfort.

Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gifts would His favor secure;
Richer by far is the heart’s adoration,
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

The stirring anthem of spiritual battle, The Son of God Goes Forth To War, is also by Bishop Heber. It's sung less frequently today, but was well-chosen by the novelist Louis Auchincloss as the recessional hymn sung at the funeral of Rev. Frank Prescott, The Rector of Justin, evoking for the reader even now the headmaster's character and a particular approach to Christian living.

And one of Heber's compositions alone, his great hymn for Trinity Sunday set to the music Nicaea of John Bacchus Dykes, would be enough to make his name a blessing.

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert, and art, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!