Isaac Watts (1674-1748) was an English hymn writer. Raised in a Nonconformist home, Watts’ father was imprisoned several times for his refusal to belong to the Church of England, and Watts himself attended a college for Dissenters—those who opposed state interference in religious matters. After returning from college, Watts published a book of hymns. His songs spread all over Europe, but he was heavily criticized by those who believed that only the Psalms should be sung by the church. Despite this, he continued to write hundreds of hymns over his lifetime, many of which we still sing today, including I Sing the Mighty Power of God. The short video below tells his story.

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