Doddridge, Philip

(June 26, 1702-Oct. 26, 1751). English independent theologian, writer, and poet. He was born in London and educated at Kingston Grammar School at the Rev. John Jenning's Dissenting Academy, Kibworth, Leicestershire. Doddridge served as minister at the Dissenting Academy after Jenning's death in 1723. The academy was reconstituted at Northampton in 1729 under Doddridge, who also became minister of an important Dissenting congregation there. He was a pioneer in missionary efforts of Independent Churches. Doddridge received a D.D. from the University of Aberdeen in 1736. Respected by many Independents, Anglicans, and Methodists, his hymns, written primarily between 1735 and 1740, were published posthumously as Hymns Founded on Various Texts in Holy Scriptures (1755). Six of his texts are found in The Hymnal 1982, including “Hark! the glad sound! the Savior comes” (71-72), and “Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve (546). He died in Lisbon, Portugal.