Joseph Thomas Fowler's 1897 edition of the Life and Letters of John Bacchus Dykes remains a critical document when assessing the musical life of the Church of England in the nineteenth century. It is filled with details concerning Dykes' involvement with the first edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861) and the compositional process behind many of the hymns that are well-known today across several denominations. This is a riveting discourse for anyone with an interest in church life, England and its hymnody in the nineteenth century, and the nature of an individual commitment to parish ministry. Dykes emerges as a figure that may well be an inspiration to many embarking on a journey of ministry, whether clerical or musical, and it is hoped that this text will be a source of reference to both scholars and those who seek to further the work of the church.