Joseph Medlicott Scriven, (10 September 1819 – 10 August 1886) was an Irish-born Canadian poet, best known as the writer of the poem which became the hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".
[3] In 1855, while staying with James Sackville in Bewdley, Ontario, north of Port Hope, he received news from Ireland of his mother being terribly ill.
All search failed to find a trace of the missing man, until a little after noon his body was discovered in the nearby river, lifeless and cold in death.
Though he was an excellent musician and composer with many of his works performed by the leading American orchestras and choirs of his day, his life is best remembered for this simple music so well suited to Scriven's text.
Joseph Scriven, described as one who lived the Christian life of service to his fellows, was born at Ballymoney Lodge, Banbridge on the 10th of September 1819.
His father was Captain John Scriven of the Royal Marines; His mother was Jane Medlicott, sister of a Wiltshire Vicar, the Rev.
There is now a monument on Downshire Place, put up by Banbridge District Council and recently a stained glass window was dedicated to J.M.
Lukas Media LLC, released the full-length documentary Friends in Jesus, The stories and Hymns of Cecil Frances Alexander and Joseph Scriven in 2011.