Anne Shepherd

SHEPHERD, Anne (née Houlditch). b. Cowes, Isle of Wight, 11 September 1809; d. Blackheath, Kent, 7 January 1857. The daughter of a clergyman, she married Saville Shepherd in 1843. She published two religious novels, Ellen Seymour; or ‘The Bud and the Flower’ (1848) and Reality; or, Life’s inner circle (1852). She is known to hymnody principally as the author of ‘Around the throne of God in heaven’*. This became very popular in the 19th century, although it was always in competition with John Mason Neale*’s ‘Around the throne of God a band’*, preferred by A&M, EH, and SofP. Another hymn, ‘I have heard of a Saviour’s love’ (originally ‘I have read…’) is in the Song Book of the Salvation...