Bridgewater: The Hymn

At the beginning of today's service at First Parish Bridgewater -- the church that started the town and of which we are active members -- Pam noticed something interesting about the prelude we would soon be hearing. The title of the hymn was "Bridgewater," and its composer was born in the town.

Because of Pam's quick thinking, I was able to get ready to record our organist Duncan Vinson opening the service with the first stanza of the song. It was an appropriate way to begin what turned out to be a thought-provoking service about the competing religious ideas of two founders of the United States: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Given that Lewis Edson lived from 1748 to 1820, he must have written this hymn during the years in which the debates of these original frenemies were most active.

Those who wish to sing along have several choices, according to the Bridgewater entry on Hymnary.org (an obscure synonym for hymnal, this site is like the IMDb of church music). Edson did not write words for his tune, but three alternatives were written by others:

• Great God, Attend While Zion Sings by Isaac Watts
• To God the Father, God the Son also by Isaac Watts, who apparently liked this tune
• My favorite: Assembled in our school once more by Dr. L. Mason

My first thought was that Edson might have composed the hymn with the famous Bridgewater Normal School in mind. But history happens in order, and even though that school (now our employer, BSU) is old, it was not founded until 20 years after Edson had died, far away in Woodstock, New York.

My second thought was to wonder whether this piece had been played in our church during the composer's lifetime. If so, it would not have been on the historic organ used today, which was constructed for our third (1848) sanctuary in 1852.

A drawing of the E. & G. G. Hook Opus 132 (1852) organ hangs in the Conservatory (music room) of our Bridgewater home, Cloverfield. The name of the artist "Phyllis" appears in the lower right; the artist Phyllis Packard was a long-time member of the church, in which her daughter Nancy served as music director.