Henry Giles Alington, an inspector of schools, and his wife Jane Margaret Booth (d. 1910), daughter of Rev.

He gained a First in Classical Moderations (Latin and Greek) in 1893 and a First in Literae Humaniores (Philosophy and Ancient History) in 1895.

The couple had four daughters and two sons: Alington died at the age of 82 and was buried at Durham Cathedral, where there is a memorial in the north transept.

Alington wrote more than 50 books, including works on religion, biography, history, poetry, and a series of detective novels.

He also wrote several popular hymns, including Good Christian Men, Rejoice and Sing (recently altered to Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing), Ye that know The Lord is gracious and The Lord of Hosts Our King Shall Be which is used as the epigraph to Nevil Shute's novel In the Wet.