Sixteenth and seventeenth century England experienced considerable upheaval as the changing of the monarchy brought into or out of favor the current state church, whether Protestant or Catholic. Various groups came into being as a result of the changing tenets and practices of the established state church, such as the nonconformists or dissenters. One such group initially met in homes in Southampton, eventually forming a congregation and drafting a constitution. Isaac Watts senior was one of its first elected deacons and Isaac Watts junior was the first name entered on the baptismal register.  Following the Glorious Revolution and passage of the Toleration Act, the Above Bar Chapel or Above Bar Congregational Church was built. (For Americans, the name is more likely the reference to the building’s location north of the city’s Bargate in Above Bar as opposed to being on the second story of an establishment that served alcoholic beverages.) Isaac Watts (junior) wrote hymns for Above Bar Congregational Church, taking the music in a significantly different direction from tradition, as we shall see.

Article taken from Then Sings My Soul, Volumes 1 & 2 by Robert J. Morgan. Copyright © 2003 by Robert J. Morgan. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.thomasnelson.com.  Sung by Kaoma Chende