We love the place, O Lord

We love the place, O Lord. William Bullock* (1798-1874). According to Percy Dearmer*, this hymn was written in 1827: A young naval officer, ordered to survey the coast of Newfoundland, is so horrified at the condition of the settlers that he resigns his commission, and returns to Newfoundland as a missionary. At a small place called Trinity Bay he builds a humble mission chapel, and for its consecration he writes this little hymn. Seventy years afterwards, a church was build on the same site and the hymn was sung again, and Bullock’s original sermon was read to the people (Songs of Praise Discussed, 1933, p. 366). It was considerably altered by Sir Henry Williams Baker* for the First...