John Freeman Young (1820 – 1885)

John Freeman Young (1820 – 1885) was born in Pittston, Maine, USA, the son of John and Emma (Freeman) Young. In 1841, he began a course of studies in science at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, but left after his first year. He then converted to the Episcopal Church and began studies at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, graduating and being ordained in 1845. He was assigned to St. John’s Church, Jacksonville, Florida. He was ordained as a priest at St. John’s Church, Tallahassee, Florida, on January 11, 1846. He spent short periods at may parishes across the USA until in 1855 he become an assistant minister at Trinity Church, New York City, where he served until his consecration as Bishop of Florida in 1867. His interests were in theology, church architecture, and hymnology, which included collecting and translating the great Christian hymns of various churches.
In in 1859, Rev. Young published a 16-page pamphlet titled Carols For Christmas Tide The first of the seven carols in this pamphlet was his definitive English translation of the great Lower Austrian hymn Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! under the title Silent Night, Holy Night.
In 1860 and 1861, he published Hymns and Music For The Young, Parts 1 and 2. In 1862, he appointed to a “Joint Committee on Hymnody and Metrical Psalmody.” Young died from pneumonia in New York City on November 15, 1885.

Hymns associated with John Freeman Young (1820 – 1885)

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