De Courcy, Richard

De Courcy, Richard, M.A., born in Ireland in 1743, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin. Having received Deacon's Orders, he became, in 1767, Curate to the Rev. Walter Shirley; but his theological views being obnoxious to Dr. Smythe, the Archbishop of Dublin, he was refused Priest's Orders and inhibited from preaching. These circumstances led to his being invited by Lady Huntingdon to England, and his joining her band of preachers. After some time, through Lady Huntingdon's influence, he obtained Priest's Orders from the Bishop of Lichfield. In 1770 he became Curate of Shawbury, Salop, and in 1774 Vicar of St. Alkmond's, Shrewsbury. The latter he retained to his death in 1803. His theological views, work, and other matters concerning him, are dwelt upon with some detail in the Life and Times of the Countess of Huntingdon, 1839. His published works include Some Elegiac Lines on the Death of the Rev. G. Whitefield, 1771; Christ Crucified, a reply to Dr. Priestley, in 2 vols., 1791; and various Sermons, &c. In 1775 he also published:—
A Collection of Psalms and Hymns Extracted from different Authors, with a Preface by Mr. De Courcy, Shrewsbury, 1775. (Preface dated "Shrewsbury, December 6, 1775.")

To the 2nd ed. of this Collection, published in 1782, several hymns were added, amongst which the following are by common consent attributed to De Courcy: —
1. Angels who the throne surround. Praise of Christ.
2. Hark! from heaven a voice I hear. Burial.
3. Jesus the Saint's perpetual theme. Christ, the Rose of Sharon.
4. Lord, I thank Thee for Thy grace. Thanksgiving for Salvation.
5. Mount, my soul, to things above. Looking Heavenward.
These hymns are attributed to De Courcy on the ground that they cannot be found in any collection or work published before his Collection, and that they have never been claimed by or on behalf of any other hymn-writer. All the hymns in his Collection were published anonymously. Other hymns, sometimes attributed to him, have been traced to earlier hymn-books, and are consequently omitted from the foregoing list.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)