Reginald Heber was born in 1783 to scholarly and well-to-do parents. It was not surprising that at age 17, Reginald entered Oxford University where his scholarship and literary abilities received much attention. Following his ordination to the ministry of the Anglican Church, he served for 16 years at an obscure parish church in a small village in western England. He became known as a prolific literary writer and became a frequent contributor to magazines with his poetry, essays and hymns.
A year after his early and untimely death, his widow and friends published a collection of his choice hymns. Most of these hymns remain in use today.
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, was written by Reginald specifically for the liturgical use on Trinity Sunday which occurs eight weeks after Easter. Even today this hymn is often used in Sunday services at many churches.