Carolo (Charles) Coffin
1676 - 1749
Charles Coffin was born October 4, 1676 in Buzancy, Ardennes, France. At an early age he showed signs of great abilities and promise. He was educated at Plessis College in Paris.
In 1701 he was appointed as chief subordinate to the historian Rollin at Beauvais College. In 1712 he became principal at the College of Beauvais at the University of Paris succeeding Rollin. In 1718 he was made Rector of the college, a post which he held until his death.
In 1727 he published some of his Latin poems; in 1736 the majority (100), of his hymns appeared in the Paris Breviary. Also in 1736 he published his hymns as Hymni Sacri Auctore Carolo Coffin. In 1775 a completed version of his works was published in two volumes. In Hymns Ancient and Modern there are a large number of his hymns translated by Chandler, Isaac Williams, and others.
He died June 20, 1749, Paris, France. Due to his persistence in appealing against the papal Constitution Unigenitus of 1713, the parish rector of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont refused to administer last rites to him or give him a Christian burial.
Hymns:
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As Now the Sun's Declining Rays (Labente jam solis rota)
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O Scorned and Outcast Lord (Opprobriis, Jesu, satur)
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What Star Is This, With Beams So Bright - Version 1(of six) (Quæ stella sole pulchrior)
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What Is That Which Shines Afar - Williams (Quæ stella sole pulchrior)
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When Shades Of Night Around Us Close (In noctis umbrâ desides)
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Qua lapsu tacito stella loquacibus
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Linquunt tecta Magi Principis urbis
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Huc vos, ô miseri: surda relinquite
The Advent of our God (Instantis adventum Dei)
Sources:
- The Hymnuts
- The Cyberhymnal
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Rev. Duncan Campbell, Hymns and Hymn Makers (London: A. & C. Black, Fourth Edition, 1908)
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