God of eternity, Lord of the ages

God of eternity, Lord of the ages. Ernest Northcroft Merrington (1876-1953). This was the first, and for many years the only Australian hymn to gain international recognition. It was written in 1912 for the Jubilee of St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Brisbane, where Merrington was the minister. He wrote of his hymn: ‘The main thought in my heart was of thankfulness to the Giver of all good for the splendid services rendered in the [British] Colonies of our blood and creed, and thankfulness for the opening of Emmanuel College during that year.’ The college was the first residential college of the University of Queensland (1911), and Merrington had played a leading role in its foundation. It...