Basil Woodd


Basil Woodd was an English evangelical cleric, known as a hymn-writer.

Life

Born at Richmond, Surrey on 5 August 1760, he was the only son of Basil Woodd and his wife Hannah, daughter of William Price of Richmond. He was educated by Thomas Clarke, rector of Chesham Bois in Buckinghamshire, and matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford, on 7 May 1778, graduating B.A. in February 1782 and M.A. in 1785. On 16 March 1783 he was ordained deacon, and in 1784 priest. On 10 August 1784 he was chosen lecturer of St Peter's, Cornhill, a post which he retained until 1808.
In February 1785 Woodd was appointed morning preacher at Bentinck Chapel, Marylebone. Early on, he established evening preaching, an innovation which was at first resisted. Bentinck was a proprietary chapel, and he purchased the lease in 1793. On 5 April 1808 he was instituted rector of Drayton Beauchamp in Buckinghamshire.
Woodd was successful in establishing schools, some of them connected with Bentinck Chapel. He was a member of religious societies, including the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, the Church Missionary Society, and the British and Foreign Bible Society. He died at Paddington Green, near London, on 12 April 1831.

Works

Woodd was a prolific author. His publications included:
Of Woodd's hymns, Hail, Thou Source of every Blessing became well known.

Family

Woodd was twice married: first, on 8 February 1785, to Ann, daughter of Colonel Wood ; and, secondly, on 3 July 1792, to Sophia Sarah, daughter of William Jupp of Wandsworth, an architect. By his first wife he had a son, Basil Owen, and two daughters—Anne Louisa, married to John Mortlock; and Anna Sophia, married to Thomas Cahusac—and by his second wife two sons and a daughter.