Peter Maurice

Maurice, Peter, D.D, son of Hugh Maurice, of Plas Gwyn, Llanrug, Carnarvonshire, and a descendent of one of the oldest families in Wales, was born at Plas Gwyn, June 29, 1803, and educated at Jesus College, Oxford (B.A. 1826, D.D. 1840). He was Chaplain of New College, 1828-58, and of All Souls, 1837-1858, and Curate of Kennington, Berks, 1829-54. In 1858 he was preferred to the Vicarage of Yarnton. He died March 30, 1878. He published several pamphlets against Popery (Popery in Oxford, 1832), and was author and editor of:—

(1) Choral Harmony, 1854; (2) Tunes in Four Parts for Congregational Worship, 1855; (3) Supple¬ment to Choral Harmony, 1858; and (4) The Choral Hymn Book, Psalms and Hymns for Public and Private Use, Compiled, Prepared, and Composed as a Companion to the Choral Harmony, N.D. [1861.]

To this Choral Hymn Book, Dr. Maurice contributed 23 hymns under the initials "P.M." Of these only two or three are found outside of his work, as: "Come, my soul, cast off all sorrow" (Confidence in God); and “I lift mine eyes to Zion's hill" (Ps. cxxi.). To the Choral Hymn Book A. T. Russell and Dr. S. P. Tregelles contributed a large number of original hymns in MS., which are practically unknown elsewhere. This book should be consulted by hymnal compilers.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)