James Edmeston

James Edmeston (10 September 1791 – 7 January 1867) was an English architect and surveyor; he was also known as a prolific writer of church hymns.

He was born in Wapping, Middlesex, England. His maternal grandfather was the Reverend Samuel Brewer, congregationalist pastor at Stepney Meeting House for 50 years. However James was attracted to the Church of England and soon became an Anglican.

He began as an architect in 1816. George Gilbert Scott was his pupil, articled to Edmedston in 1827. In 1864 he built Columbia Wharf, Rotherhithe, the first grain silo in a British port.

Edmeston started by writing poetry publishing The Search, and other Poems in 1817.

He served as the church warden at St. Barnabas in Homerton, Middlesex, and was a strong supporter of and frequent visitor to the London Orphan Asylum. Edmeston is said to have written 2000 hymns, one every Sunday.

He died in Homerton in 1867.

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