I conjecture that not a few Universities and other institutional libraries are custodians of at least one extra-mural literary text. In the gardens surrounding them.
From I think roughly 1900, the fashion for bronze plates with quotes in raised letters, on a long metal stake, has become popular; in recent times sometimes in ceramic versions. Thereby focussing attention on the sole authoress whose poem is the most commonly so found throughout most of the English-speaking world, yet seldom with attribution, and virtually unknown intra-murally.
"The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,-
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth"
is the 4th of five verses of "God's Garden" by Dorothy Frances Gurney (nee Blomfield), 1858 - 1932, poetess and hymn-writer. She died at Notting Hill, London, but her burial-place is apparently unknown, and no photo or portrait available.
I would be interested to know when the above poem was written. The first edition of Gurney's collected poetry is "Poems", 1913. But this is not the first printing of the now very famous poem in question, of which the earliest I have so far located is in the form of sheet music:
""God's Garden", sacred song with organ, or harmonium accompaniment, ad lib". The words by D F Gurney, and music by Frank Lambert; Chappell & Co. Ltd, 1902. The centenary of which is now immanent.
Details of any prior printing or manuscript would be appreciated.
John Barton
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