Martin Rinkart was a German Lutheran clergyman and hymn writer born in Eilenburg in 1586. Throughout his career, he served in various ecclesiastical roles, including as a deacon in Eisleben and as an archdeacon in his birthplace. He remained in Eilenburg during the hardships of the Thirty Years' War and a significant plague outbreak in 1637. He is most widely recognized for composing the lyrics to the hymn "Nun danket alle Gott" around 1636, which later became a well-known piece of sacred music.
Ecclesiastical career
Rinkart held several positions within the Lutheran church, working as a parson, cantor, and theologian. After his time as a deacon, he returned to Eilenburg to serve as an archdeacon. His ministry was marked by the difficult period of the Thirty Years' War, during which he provided pastoral care amidst the local plague of 1637. He passed away in Eilenburg in 1649.
Musical legacy
His most enduring contribution to Christian worship is the hymn "Nun danket alle Gott." This text was later set to music by Johann Crüger and eventually translated into English by Catherine Winkworth. Additionally, the name Rinkart is associated with a specific musical tune composed by Johann Sebastian Bach for a different hymn written by G. W. Briggs.