William Cowper was the son of the chaplain to King George II in Great Berkhamstead, England. He was born on November 15, 1731, During his early life Cowper moved to the village of Olney, where he began a great friendship with young John Newton, pastor of the Olney Anglican parish church. In 1799, newton and Cowper produced the famous Olney Hymns Hymnal , one of the most important contribution made to the field of hymnody. Out of the entire collection of 349 hymns, sixty-seven were written by Cowper and the remainder by Newton. While living in Olney, Cowper stayed at the home of his Aunt, Mrs. Unwin, who remained a guardian and very devoted friend till the end of her days. This home is now a very popular museum in Olney, containing interesting relics, books and portraits of Cowper and Newton and friends. Behind the home is the lovely garden where Cowper and Newton met nearly every day to work on their hymns. “O for a Closer Walk With God” was written on December 9, 1769, during the serious illness of Cowper’s dear friend, Mrs. Unwin. In a letter written the following day, referring to this event, Cowper wrote:She is the chief of blessings I have met within my journey since the Lord was pleased to call me... Her illness has been a sharp trial to me. Oh, that it may have been a sanctified effect, that I may rejoice to surrender up to the Lord my dearest comforts, the moment He may require them... I began to compose the verses yesterday morning before daybreak but fell asleep at the end of the first two lines: When I awakened, the third and fourth were whispered to my heart in a way which I have often experienced.The hymn first appeared in Collection of Psalms and Hymns , compiled by William Cowper, in 1772. Later on when it was included in the Olney Hymns Hymnal , Book 1, it was called “Walking With God,” based on, Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. “O for a Closer Walk With God” reflects the inner struggles of William Cowper’s sensitive soul and his desire to experience the serenity of God’s abiding presence in his life. John Bacchus Dykes composed the tune which was named “Beatitudo”. He was one of England’s leading church musicians of the nineteenth century. Dykes was born on March 10, 1823, in Hull England. He received his training at Cambridge University and later was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Durham University. During his career Dykes is credited with composing 300 hymn tunes, many of which are still widely used today: “Melita” - Eternal Father, Strong to Save, “Nicaea” - Holy, Holy, Holy, “Vox Dilecti” - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say, “St. Agnes” - Jesus the Very Thought of Thee, and “Lux Benigna” - Lead, Kindly Light. The tune “Beatitudo” was originally composed by John Dykes for the hymn text “How Bright These Glorious Spirits Shine,” which appeared in the 1875 edition of the Hymns Ancient and Modern hymnal. “Beatitude” was a word coined by Cicero, meaning “the condition of blessedness.”