E. J. Brailsford

Brailsford, Edward John, son of C. J. Brailsford, was born in Birmingham in 1841, and educated for the Wesleyan Ministry at Didsbury College. He entered upon his ministerial work at Bangor and Carnarvon in 1863, and has since held important appointments at Liverpool, London, Bolton, Ilkley, Edinburgh, &c. His hymn,
Behold, behold the Bridegroom nigh (Advent), was written at Ilkley, Yorkshire, and first published in Gatecliff’s Chant Book, 1877, and included in the Methodist Hymn Book, 1904. In the 3rd edition of Gatecliff’s Chant Book, 1877, there are also "O God of truth! speak now Thy holy word," and "Lord, I will follow on"; and in the 4th edition, 1883, "As sinks the sun while clouds grow bright." These are worthy of notice.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)