Lawrence Tuttiett (1825-1897) was born in Colyton in Devon and educated at Christ’s Hospital and King’s College. Originally planning a medical career, Tuttiet took Holy Orders in 1848. Within a year he was a priest and by 1850 the curate at St Paul’s in Knightsbridge, followed by the curacy at St Thomas’. Other curacies included Holy Trinity in Ride, Longton in Stoke-on-Trent and Lea Marston in Warwickshire. From 1868-9 he was vicar at Lea Marston. He married a Helen Carnegy in 1854 and their daughter Helen Hunter was born in 1855. As a clergyman he advocated the teaching of catechism in school. Other posts included: Rector at the Scottish Episcopal Church of St Andrew in St Andrews; Canon of St Ninian’s Cathedral in Perth. He was canon in Perth until his death in June 1897. He is known for his poetry, books but especially his hymns. His most famous hymn is Father Let Me Dedicate. The hymns of Lawrence Tuttiett have been described as possessing“smoothness of rhythm, direction of aim, simplicity of language and deep earnestness.”
Writing:
Hymns for Churchmen (1854) Counsels of a Godfather (1861) Hymns for the Children of the Church (1862) Gems of Thought on the Sunday Services (1864)Through the Clouds; Thoughts in Plain Verse (1866)
Hymns:
As Calmly in the Glowing West As Now Thy Children Lowly Kneel Come, Our Father’s Voice Is Calling Father, Let Me Dedicate Give Light, O Lord Go Forward, Christian Soldier Grant Us Thy Light I Come, O Father Kind Lo, Like a Bride in Pure Array No Sign We Ask from Heaven Above Now, Eternal Father, Bless O Grant Us Light O Happy Christian Children O Jesu, Ever Present O Quickly Come, Dread Judge of All Shepherd, Good and Gracious Sometimes o’er Our Pathway When the World Is Brightest Who Is This? The Long Expected.