There are 2 feasts this week. The Feast of the Transfiguration is on August 6, and we remember Catherine Winkworth, a 19th century poet on the 7th.
Who was Catherine Winkworth? That was my first question. Perhaps you know are familiar with her, but I wasn’t. The lectionary says she was a poet who died in 1878. In fact, she was more than that. She translated German choral hymns. For that she is recognized by both the Episcopal and Evangelical Lutheran Churches. Perhaps more importantly she worked for the right to education for girls and women.
She was born in England in 1827. Her father was a silk merchant in Manchester, England. The family later lived in Clifton, near Bristol. She studied with the Rev. William Gaskell and Dr. James Martineau, both of whom were leaders in British Unitarianism in Manchester.
During a year in Dresden she discovered an interest in German hymns and published translations of some in Lyra Germanica in 1854. This collection of German hymns was followed by a second one. In the 1860’s she coauthored The Chorale Book for England and Christian Singers of Germany. The Harvard University Hymn Book states that Winkworth “did more than any other single individual to make the rich heritage of German hymnody available to the English-speaking world." The Hymnal 1982 uses nine of her translations, including #53, #67, #339.
Catherine Winkworth died July 1, 1878 in Monnetier in Savoy, France. The collect for her day picks up on her translation of ‘Comfort ye my people’, (#64) a hymn by Johann Olearius (1611-1684). It says, “Comfort your people, O God of peace, and prepare a way for us in the desert, that, like your poet and translator Catherine Winkworth, we may preserve the spiritual treasures of your saints of former years and sing our thanks to you with hearts and hands and voices, eternal triune God whom earth and heaven adore; for you live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.”
The Epistle for the Feast of the Transfiguration (August 6) reminds us that we are all, like Catherine Winkworth, prophets and witnesses to the world of God and God’s work. In the Second Letter of Peter, we hear, “I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory…For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (2 Peter 1:13-21)
The Holy Spirit moved Catherine Winkworth to speak the truth about the need for education for women. Her hymn translations continue to inspire worshippers. She used her gifts and mind to work for change.
What truth are you called to speak?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Winkworth
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/glossary/winkworth-catherine
