Helen Gertrude Bryan

In 1901 Census, visiting her sister Edith Howard at her brother-in-law's parish of Wyddian, Buntingford, Cambridgeshire.

Hymn writer (see http://musicsack.com/PersonFMTDetail.cfm?PersonPK=100087225)

Funeral proceedings (Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 28 December 1917)

THE LATE MRS. HOWARD. Touching Tribute at the Funeral Service The funeral of Mrs. Howard, wife of the Rev. Howard, Vicar of St. Philip's, Romsey Town, took place on Boxing Day, the service being held at St. Philip’s Church, and the interment taking place at the Borough Cemetery. Mrs. Howard passed peacefully away on Friday last at St. Philip’s Vicarage. She had been in failing health for a long time past, and about a month ago underwent an operation.

A touching tribute in her memory was paid by the Rev. E.C. Essex at the service on Wednesday afternoon, which was attended by a very large congregation. The Rev. T. W. Thomas (Vicar of Newton) took the service at the church. The cortege was met at the door of the church by the choir, and the Rev. T. W. Thomas said the sentences as the procession entered the church. The choir then sang the 80th Psalm, after which the Rev. E. C. Essex read the lesson. The hymn 'There is a fountain filled with blood' was sung, after which the Rev. E. Essex gave the address. He said "What more fitting words could we choose from God’s Holy Word than those to be found in the Gospel of St. Matthew, the 25th chapter, and the 21st verse, 'Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'? The keynote of our solemn service today is joy, joy in retrospect, as we look back over the earthly life of the one who had been called away to the joy of her Lord; a life of simple, unaffected piety lived in the sunshine of God's love, a life of abounding faith in our Saviour Jesus Christ. How faithfully she discharged the sacred duties of the home. A godly home is the spiritual dynamic of the world, and a saintly mother the crown of God’s creation.

“God gave her the blessing of children, and, like Hannah, she gave them the Lord. Three of those children are working for God in far-off India. You know the pang it costs a mother's heart to say farewell to her children. Yet gladly she sent them forth to work in the great harvest field. Another son is cheering and comforting the soldier lads at the front as a chaplain. Two remain at home, helping in the spiritual work of this parish. Oh, the joy of it! as she meets her Lord and says 'Of those whom Thou has given me have I lost none.' God grant that every mother here may pray for grace to follow her noble example. And there is one here who thanks God with all his heart for His precious gift of a devoted wife. For 37 years she has been a comforter in times of trial, a wise counsellor in the hour of perplexity, a source of inspiration to him in his life-work. 'Her children rise and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her.' Never robust in health, especially of late, it was not permitted her to do much work in the parish. But there are many homes where her kindly presence has been a solace to the suffering. Only yesterday one said, 'I have lost a good friend.' She longed to do more. The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak. How she rejoiced to see the Women’s Meeting prospering by the blessing of God, and upon that bed of sickness which proved her last, she expressed her fervent hope that she might often again speak to them the words of salvation. She loved the worship of God’s House, and took an especial interest in the music. Not long ago we sang in our service a hymn-tune she had composed. And now she worships in His courts above among the ransomed of the Lord with songs and everlasting joy.

“Will you, her dear ones, wish her still on earth? Yes, many times. But there is joy now for you in the honour of having a wife, a mother, a sister called to the Palace of the King. And fuller joy is yours in the sweet prospect of that glad reunion in the life beyond, where you, too, will join her in the song of the redeemed. 'Blessing and honour and glory and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.' Unto that blessed company in the home above may our Heavenly Father vouchsafe to bring all of His infinite mercy, through the love of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen."

The concluding prayers were said by the Rev. T W. Thomas, after which the hymn, "Ten thousand times ten thousand" was sung. As the coffin was borne from the church the choir walked in front singing the Nunc Dimittis. Miss Rayner was the organist. and played "O rest in the Lord" at the opening of the service, and "He shall feed His flock" at the close.

The coffin, which was covered with beautiful floral tributes, was plain English oak. with brass fittings, and bore the inscription: - "Helen Gertrude Howard, died December 21st, 1917 aged 57 years.” The mourners were: The Rev. C. Howard. Mr J.R. Howard and Miss Howard (son and daughter). Miss Bryan (sister), Major Bryan (brother), the Rev. A. Howard (brother) and Mrs. Howard. Mr. W. Bryan (brother), the Rev. T. W. Thomas, the Rev. E. C. Essex, Miss Salome Howard (niece), Miss Evelyn Howard (niece), Mr Nelson Howard (nephew), Miss Jefferies, Mrs. and Miss Bullough, Mrs. Stanley, Messrs. F. C. Flanders and A. Parker (churchwardens), Miss Barringer, Miss Hudson, and Mrs. Rawlinson. Among others present were the Revs. T. Morgan (St Andrew's the Great), S.T. Adams (Holy Sepulchre), the Rev. W.H. Norman (St. Barnabas'), the Rev S. Symonds (St Mark's, Newnham). The Vicar of St Andrew's the Less (the Rev. F. J. Church) was unable to be present, but was represented by his son. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. W.E. Lilley and Co., Ltd.

Helen Howard's gravestone in Newmarket Road Cemetery has the lines by William Cowper:

There is a fountain filled with blood,

Drawn from Immanuel's veins,

And sinners plunged beneath that flood,

Lose all their guilty stains.

cf. http://wn.com/There_is_a_fountain_filled_with_Blood