Before his death, Albert Bayly (1901–1984; see Biographies) was recognized as the dean of contemporary British hymn writers. A talk given on the British Broadcasting Company’s Third Program by J. Isaacs on January 17, 1949, entitled “Poetry and Science,” suggested the words of this hymn to Bayly. It first appeared in seven stanzas in his booklet of hymns and poems, Rejoice, O People, in 1950.

Bayly shows his interest in both religion and science, for with mention of such scientific terms as curved space, energy, galaxy, and atom, he also includes several scriptural allusions: “For he spake, and it was done” (Ps. 33:9); “The mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed” (Eph. 1:9); “So God created man in his own image” (Gen. 1:27); “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32) Changes have been made from the original “Thy” and “Thine” to “You” and “Yours”, and in the first stanza from “The fount of energy” to “All nature’s energy.”

From his home in Cambridge, England, Derek Williams writes that SAN ROCCO was composed in 1968 to be sung to “Give Me the Wings of Faith,” by Isaac Watts. This was a contribution to a service sung that summer in Lichfield Cathedral by the choir of Selwyn College; the service commemorated the centenary of George Augustus Selwyn’s appointment as bishop of Lichfield. Bayly’s “Lord of the Boundless Curves of Space” was first associated with this tune in the United Reformed Church hymnal, New Church Praise, 1975.

Derek Williams was born September 16, 1945, in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, and educated at King Edward VII School. At Selwyn College, Cambridge, 1964 to 1968, he earned the M.A. and B.Mus. degrees. Since 1970 he has been working as head of the Music Department at the Cambridge University Library.