Michael Saward

For the British general, see Michael Saward (British Army officer).

Michael Saward (born 14 May 1932) is an Anglican priest and hymnist.

Saward was born in Blackheath, south-east London, grew up in Petts Wood, was educated at Eltham College, and became a practising Christian in 1946. For his National Service, he served as a subaltern in the Royal West African Frontier Force in Accra, Ghana. He read Theology at Bristol University and was ordained priest at Canterbury Cathedral. He served as curate in Croydon and Edgware - two London suburbs. He was Secretary of Liverpool Council of Churches (1964–1967). He then became Radio and Television Officer to Archbishop Michael Ramsey until 1972. He was then Vicar of St Matthew’s, Fulham until 1978, and he was Vicar of St Mary's, Ealing from 1978 until 1991. He also became President of the House of Clergy of the Willesden Area Synod. Until his retirement at the end of 2000 he had been Canon Treasurer of St Paul's Cathedral in London.

He has served on many councils and committees, among which were the General Synod (1975–1995), the Church Commissioners (1978–1993) and the Church of England Evangelical Council (1976–1993). He also served as Chairman of the Billy Graham London Mission 1989 Media Task Group, a judge of The Times 'Preacher of the Year' competition in 2000 and as religious adviser to the film 'Cromwell'.

He was also a holder of a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship, a Freeman of the City of London and a member of the Athenaeum.

Hymn activity

Saward has written over a hundred hymns, of which "Christ triumphant, ever reigning" is his best known, usually sung to the hymn tune "Guiting Power" (named after the village of Guiting Power in Gloucestershire) by John Barnard.

A long-term of the Jubilate Group of hymnwriters, he was also its chairman from 1999 to 2001.

He is an active member of the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland, currently serving on its executive committee.^[1]

Family

He is the father of Rachel, Formula 1 journalist Joe and of author and rape campaigner Jill and her twin Sue.

His grandfather was Captain Henry Kendall the first person to use radio to capture a criminal (Crippen) and Captain of the RMS Empress of Ireland when it sank.

Bibliography

• A Faint Streak of Humility, autobiography.
• Christ Triumphant, hymn collection, published by the Jubilate Group.

References

1. ^ "Hymn Society: Executive Committee". Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland. http://www.hymnsocietygbi.org.uk/exectutivecommittee-hs.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-21. 

Business positions
Preceded by Michael Baughen	Chairman of Jubilate Group 1999–2001	Succeeded by Steve James

Persondata
Name	Saward, Michael
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Date of birth	14 May 1932
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