Noel, Gerard Thomas

Noel, Gerard Thomas elder brother of the Rev. B. W. Noel (q.v.), was born Dec. 2, 1782, and was likewise educated at Cambridge University, and became, too, a clergyman of the Established Church. In 1834 he was canon of Winchester. In 1840 he became vicar of Romsey, where he died, Feb. 24, 1851. He is principally known as the author of the favorite hymn, "If human kindness meets return," which he appended, with a few others, to a work written by him, entitled Avendel, or Sketches in Italy and Switzerland (2d edit. 1813). HP was also the author of a Selection of Psalms and Hymns from the New Version of the Church of England and others, corrected and revised for Public Worship (3d edit. 1820). This consists of 220 hymns and most of the Psalms. Several of the hymns are by Mr. Noel. He published Fifty Sermons for the Use of Families — (2 vols.; new edit. 1830), and also separate Sermons. After his death his sermons preached in Romsey appeared with a preface by the bishop of Oxford (1853). See Miller, Singers and Songs of the, Church; Pye Smith, Introd. to Theology, p. 546, 595.