Sacred+Poems+for+Mourners

PR 1191 T74 Introduction by the Rev.R.C. Trench, M.A.
 * Sacred Poems for Mourners**

London: Francis & John Rivington, St.Paul’s Church Yard, and Waterloo Place 1846

2nd pg

London: Gilbert and Rivington, printers, St. John’s Square

3 pg



377 pages of poems Containing the works of 59 poets not including anonomys writers.

The introduction, selection and placement of poems is done by the Reverend Richard Chenevix Trench, and Anglican Archbishop and talented poet. Born on September 9th, 1807 in Dublin, Ireland to Richard Trench and Melesina Chenevix. For the most part Trench lived a fairly subdued childhood, educated in Harrow School then going on to attend Trinity College, Cambridge and and graduating in 1892. There is some debate as to whether or not he graduated or simply left Trinity College since soon after he fell into a period of depression. After spending a brief amount of time in Spain and seeking solace in poetry, Trench was able to relieve himself of his emotional turmoil. It is with this earlier poetry he was first starting to be noticed by literary critics. This inclination towards poetry was not unexpected, owing to the fact that his mother was a relatively Irish poet in her own right. In 1832 he was ordained and later located to Curdridge Chapel in Hampshire where he published The Story of Justin Martyr and Other Poems and a few other volumes. That same year he married his cousin Hon and went on to have 14 children.

After a series of positions in 1846 Trench became professor of divinity and appointed to a theological chair in King’s College, London. As a biblical scholar he taught the importance of the teachings of the church as well as the historical significance of poetic writing. In 1856 Trench became the dean of Westminster and later in 1863, the Archbishop of Dublin, a position grudgingly given to him. He was not the first choice for archbishop and was not favoured by the prime minister nor the general population of Ireland. It was during the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland that he came into his own, although he opposed the decision, he ultimately lost. Despite the loss it was acknowledged by his peers and adversaries that he was the best person to be in that position in time due to his calm and understanding nature.

Retiring in November 1884, after suffering from poor health, Trench had enough time collect and arrange his poetic writings and publish them in 1885, before passing away on March 28, 1886 at Eaton Square, London and buried in Westminster Abbey.

This book contains many of Trenches own works.

Victorians have a unique and almost obsessive relationship with death. Due to high mortality rates and an average lifespan of 45 years for upperclass, shortening to a brief 22 years for labourers and servants, death was a common occurrence. Poor hygiene, unsafe living conditions and high number of illnesses are just a few of the causes for the demises of many. The death of children was heart breakingly high, records showing that working class cities averaged around a rate of 274 infant death. And those in even worse living conditions with a rate of 509 per 1000. It was no surprise yet no less depressing when I opened Sacred Poems for Mourners and the pages fell open to “To a Dying Infant”, by Mrs. Southey.

"To a Dying Infant" by Mrs. Southey

Since children were the most often to die, poems like this were quite common, written to help grieving parents, but mostly written on behalf of mothers, to overcome their loss and accept the death of their child. There was no such thing as “self help’ books and psychiatry was in its infancy, making poetry the only form of emotional solace and empathetic understanding socially acceptable and available. By modern day mind set, this focus and dwelling upon a passing might be viewed as strange or unhealthy but that is partially due to the increased taboo nature of death. With the steady decrease in mortality rates and increase of life expectancy, death becomes more removed and alien. During the 1800’s death was an intrinsic aspect of Victorian life, manifesting in staged photos with the recently deceased, jewelry made from their hair and poetry pertaining to all manner of deaths.

I think this book would be a wonderful resource and provide an insight into Victorian beliefs, traditions and understanding of death. Although a large majority of people when thinking of Victorian poetry associate it with romanticism and idealistic morals, tend to forget about the darker nature of Victorian poetry. The inevitability and high mortality rate made death a constant presence, also making it a ready source of inspiration and commiserative subject matter. We can also catch a glimpse at the relationships and connections between mother and child, husband and wife and other social relationships. Due to the religious nature of the writing and the fact that it was compiled by a reverend allows modern day readers to see a small facet of Christian theology. The fact that Rev. Richard Chenevix Trench was lecturing at King’s college at the time of the books publishment might have influenced the presentation of the poetry and the additional print accompanying them. He is yet to become the Archbishop of Ireland but he must, as an Irish priest during a time of turbulence between England and Ireland, have a unique perspective.

References St.Paul's Church Yard, and Waterloo Place, 1846
 * Christian Classics Ethereal Library
 * Encyclopedia Britannica
 * Berkeleyan Home Search Site/ "//A Victorian Obsession With Death//"
 * ////Sacred Poems for Mourners,//// introduction by Rev. R.C. Trench, MA London: Francis &John Rivington,