Radical Writers: The Radical Hymns of Isaac Watts with Dr Daniel Johnson

Isaac Watts (1674-1748) is remembered as one of Abney Park’s most famous connections, for his hymns – which are still sung to this day. In his lifetime, Watts’ hymns were highly controversial, marking a transition away from the practice of psalm-singing. Coupled with his theological views, which brought widespread criticism, Watts can rightly be seen as a radical.

Dr Daniel Johnson is one of the country’s foremost Isaac Watts scholars. He completed his PhD in 2024 from the University of Leicester, and works as a lecturer and researcher at a number of universities. He recently appeared on BBC’s Songs of Praise, filmed in Abney Park, to share some of his knowledge on Watts.