Congregationalist
Hymn #155.
Miss Ann Taylor was born January 30, 1782, being the daughter of Isaac Taylor, at that time an engraver in London, England. He later became a Congregationalist minister and went to reside at Colchester, then Ongar. In 1813 Ann married another minister named Joseph Gilbert. He was a tutor of mathematics at the Congregational College at Rotherham, Yorkshire. He died at Hull in 1852 and she remained in Nottingham. She wrote hymns in conjunction with her sister Jane Taylor. She wrote that encouraging children’s hymn:
“God is in heaven; can He hear
A little child like me?
Yes, little child; thou needst not fear;
He’ll listen e’en to thee.
God is in heaven; would He save
A little child like me?
Yes, little child, for Jesus gave
His life for such as thee.”
This would show that the salvation of children was upon her heart. She went to that heaven upon her death December 20, 1866. How precious to our hearts as believers is hymn #155!
“What was it, blessed God,
Led Thee to give Thy Son,
To yield Thy well-beloved
For us by sin undone?
‘Twas love unbounded led Thee thus
To give Thy well-beloved for us.’