Columba Graham Flegg

Edward Wilton Eddis (1825–1905) was a poet and prophet within the Catholic Apostolic Church. Born in Islington, he was one of five children. Eddis married Ellen Sheppard, and they had four children. The family relocated to Australia, likely in the late 1860s or 1870s, where his wife later died. Eddis was a member of the Catholic Apostolic Church and was appointed as a prophet by its Westminster congregation. His writings, such as "The Time of the End and Other Poems" (1851), aligned with the church's theological perspectives. He was involved in a theological dispute concerning the church's doctrines. Eddis also co-edited "Hymns for the Use of the Churches," the official hymnal of the Catholic Apostolic Church, contributing numerous original hymns and translations. He continued his involvement with the church in Australia, being part of its clergy in Melbourne. Eddis passed away in Toronto in 1905.

Edward Wilton Eddis was a devoted member of the Catholic Apostolic Church, holding the significant position of prophet within the Westminster congregation. His spiritual life and writings were deeply intertwined with the church's doctrines and eschatological outlook. His collection of poetry, "The Time of the End and Other Poems" (1851), reflected the theological tenets of the Catholic Apostolic Church, particularly its views on the end times. Eddis was also involved in theological discussions, participating in a dispute with John Ross Dix regarding the church's practices and history. His role as a prophet suggests a direct engagement with divine inspiration and guidance, a core aspect of the church's structure and belief system.

A significant contribution by Edward Wilton Eddis was his co-authorship of "Hymns for the Use of the Churches," the primary hymnal for the Catholic Apostolic Church. Collaborating with John Bate Cardale, Eddis played a leading role in compiling this collection, first published in 1864. The hymnal was intended for both public worship and private devotion. The 1864 edition featured nineteen of Eddis's original poems and two translations. Subsequent editions saw his contributions expand significantly; by the 1871 edition, he had added forty new hymns and one translation, bringing his total to sixty-two hymns. These hymns often incorporated "premillennialism" and expressed the unique "catholic apostolic thought," sometimes altering existing texts to align with the church's specific interpretations. Some of his original hymns, like "Thou givest us the Bread of Life," were adapted for inclusion.

Beyond his work on the hymnal, Eddis was also a poet and author. His early work, "The Time of the End and Other Poems" (1851), laid the groundwork for his theological expressions within the Catholic Apostolic Church. He also authored "The True Revival of the Church of Christ, and her hope in the last days" (1860), a letter addressing theological matters. Later in life, he penned "The Log of Yorkshire" (1874), a narrative poem detailing a voyage to Australia. While the "Hymns for the Use of the Churches" primarily contained lyrics, music was later provided by Edmund Hart Turpin, with many of the new tunes specifically composed to support Eddis's hymns. His work, alongside others, reflects a broader trend of reviving Catholic tradition, though Columba Graham Flegg suggests a more nuanced influence from movements like the Oxford Movement than is sometimes assumed.