Augustus Toplady

Augustus Toplady

Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-1778) was educated at Westminster and at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1768 he was appointed vicar of Broad Hembury, Devonshire. An earnest Calvinist, he published 'The Doctrine of Absolute Predestination Stated and Asserted' (1769), 'Historic Proof of the Doctrinal Calvinism of the Church of England' (1774), and 'The Church of England Vindicated from the Charge of Arminianism' (1774). He also wrote 'Poems on Sacred Subjects' (1775) and 'Psalms and Hymns' (1776). He died on August 11, 1778 of tuberculosis at age 38. [Adapted from the Handbook to the Baptist Hymnal, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992]

As a hymnist, Toplady was influenced at many points by the Evangelical Revival. Nourished in the established church, he was converted to Methodism but later turned Calvinist and entered the Anglican ministry as one of the earliest members of the Evangelical (Low Church) Party that included John Newton (1725-1808), Thomas Haweis (1734-1820), and others. Toplady's vituperative theological battles with the Wesleys is one of the most interesting episodes in British hymnic history. Most of that controversy is now forgotten and the memorable residue in Toplady's world-famous penitential hymn "Rock of Ages, cleft for me." Despite some confusing images and a musical setting that has taken a toll on the hymn's once great popularity, it continues to have great power in voicing a universal human need for confessing sin and receiving God's forgiveness. [From the Sing with Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Hymnody, Second Edition, Revised, Harry Eskew and Hugh McElrath (Nashville: Church Street Press, 1995.]

Hymns

Letters/Monographs by Toplady

The Reformed Methodist Homepage
"Wicket Gate" Magazine, the Reformed Baptist Church lnverness, Scotland

Research Sites