Frederick William Orde Ward

Frederick William Orde Ward (April 9, 1834 - 1922) was an English poet and Curate.

Life and work
Orde Ward was educated at Tonbridge School, Wadham College, and Charsley Hall, Oxford. He was successively curate of St. Giles’, Oxford; Rockingham, Northants; Vicar of Pishill, and Rector of Nuffield, Henley-on-Thames.

Under the nom-de-plume "F. Harald Williams" he published, in 1890, “’Twixt Kiss and Lip” (800 large pages of closely printed verse); in 1894, “Confessions of a Poet” (492 pages); in 1897, “Matin Bells” (550 pages); in 1899, “English Roses” (600 pages); and in 1904, “The Prisoner of Love” (400 pages), besides other volumes.

Writing
In the preface of “The Prisoner of Love,” the poet says: “I have endeavoured to articulate in verse the most advanced religious and other truths of our time.... Whether I have succeeded or not ... in supplying fresh reconciliations or suggesting other avenues of faith and feeling, I am convinced that the message of the cross remains as new as ever still, and is all the music of our lives.”

Recognition
His poems "The Beatific Vistion" and "The Rapture" were included in the Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse.