James Lyon, a Presbyterian minister and one of America’s earliest composers, ministered at the Congregational Church in Machias, Maine from 1771 until his death in 1794. Plans for the church building pictured (now known as the Centre Street Congregational Church) began in 1793. A memorial window in the current building (constructed in 1836) reads: “In memory of Rev. James Lyon, A Noble Patriot, A Faithful Minister, A Good Man, and Full of the Holy Ghost.”
This composition is based on words by Isaac Watts and set to music by James Lyon. It is extracted from John Stickney, The Gentleman and Lady’s Musical Companion.
