Within the Rock of Ages Book

To most who know the resounding hymn Rock of Ages, its author Augustus Montague Toplady is merely a curious name in the hymnbook. But in this definitive biography, George Lawton reconstructs a vivid portrait of this pious but irascible cleric. A skilful blend of carefully researched historical fact and anecdote brings the 18th century figure to life as the reader follows his career from solitary childhood to Ministry in the Church of England. Toplady emerges as a hymn writer of great merit, and not only for the flash of genius that produced Rock of Ages. Through careful critical appreciation of the major hymns, Dr Lawton draws attention to their poetic qualities and solid doctrinal message. Toplady's desire to promote the Christian message was not limited to hymn writing, and this biography reveals his role as a keen participant in contemporary theological debate. The author charts Toplady's heated battle with Wesley over the relative merits of Calvinism and Arminianism and this forms an exciting central theme that shows his absolute loyalty to the Church of England and his talent for polemical prose.