Joseph Medlicott Scriven 1819-1886

Photo by Alan L Brown - May 10, 2004

Plaque Location

The County of Peterborough
The Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan
On the east side of Scriven Road, street number 67, south of County Road 2, 1 concession east of County Road 28

Plaque Text

Born and educated in Ireland, Scriven was a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin. He emigrated to Canada in 1847 and during the 1850's became tutor to the family of Capt. Robert L. Pengelley, R.N., a retired British Naval Officer who had settled in this vicinity. A deeply religious man, he published a book entitled "Hymns and Other Verses", 1869. However the poem entitled "Pray Without Ceasing", for which he was to become famous, was first published in a local newspaper. Set to music by Dr. Charles C. Canvers, it gained international recognition under the title "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".

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