An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church

Winkworth, Catherine

(Sept. 13, 1827-July 1, 1878). Hymn translator. She was born in London. She was interested in educational and social problems and became secretary of an association for the promotion of higher education for women in 1870, governor of Red Maids' School, Bristol, promoter of Clifton High School for Girls, and a member of the Cheltenham Ladies' College. She was a delegate to the German conference on women's work at Darmstadt in 1872. She is considered one of the best of the translators from German. Her Lyra Germanica (1855) was published in two series. The first series went into twenty-three editions and the second into twelve. She also published Chorale Book for England (1862). Her Christian Singers of Germany (1869) contained biographies of German hymnwriters. A number of her translations were included in Hymns Ancient and Modern. The Hymnal 1982 uses nine of her translations, including “Once he came in blessing” (53), “Comfort, comfort ye my people” (67), and “Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness” (339). She died in Monnetier in Savoy, France.

Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.