Frances Ridley Havergal


Frances Ridley Havergal was an English religious poet and hymnwriter. Take My Life and Let it Be and Thy Life for Me are two of her best known hymns. She also wrote hymn melodies, religious tracts, and works for children. She did not occupy, and did not claim for herself, a prominent place as a poet, but by her distinct individuality, she carved out a niche which she alone could fill.

Early life and education

Frances Ridley Havergal was born into an Anglican family, at Astley in Worcestershire, 14 December 1836. Her father, William Henry Havergal, was a clergyman, writer, composer, and hymnwriter. Her brother, Henry East Havergal, was a priest in the Church of England and an organist.
When she was five, her father removed to the Rectory of St. Nicholas, Worcester. In August, 1850, she entered Mrs. Teed's school, whose influence over her was most beneficial. In the following year she says, "I committed my soul to the Saviour, and earth and heaven seemed brighter from that moment." A short sojourn in Germany followed. In 1852/3, she studied in the Louisenschule, Düsseldorf, and at Oberkassel. Havergal's scholastic acquirements were extensive, embracing several modern languages, together with Greek and Hebrew.
On her return to England, she was confirmed in Worcester Cathedral, 17 July 1853.

Career

In 1860, she left Worcester upon her father resigning the Rectory of St. Nicholas, and resided at different periods in Leamington, and at Caswell Bay, Swansea, broken by visits to Switzerland, Scotland, and North Wales. It was during this time—1873—that she read J. T. Renford's little booklet All For Jesus, which "lifted her whole life into sunshine, of which all she had previously experienced was but as pale and passing April gleams, compared with the fullness of summer glory." She led a quiet life, not enjoying consistent good health. She supported the Church Missionary Society.
Havergal's hymns were frequently printed by J. & R. Parlane as leaflets, and in Caswall & Co. as ornamental cards. They were gathered together from time to time and published in her works as follows:— Ministry of Song, 1869; Twelve Sacred Songs for Little Singers, 1870; Under the Surface, 1874; Loyal Responses, 1878; Life Mosaic, 1879; Life Chords, 1880; and Life Echoes, 1883.
About fifteen of the more important of Havergal's hymns, including “Golden harps are sounding,” “I gave my life for thee," “Jesus, Master, Whose I am,” “Lord, speak to me,” “O Master, at Thy feet,” “Take my life and let it be,” “Tell it out among the heathen," &c., are annotated under their respective first lines. The rest, which are in collections, number nearly fifty. These are noted here, together with dates and places of composition, from the Havergal manuscripts and the works in which they were published. Those which were printed in Parlane's Series of Leaflets are distinguished as and those in Caswall's series.
Most of these hymns are given in Snepp's Songs of Grace and Glory, 1872 and 1876, his †. 1874, and the Musical ed., 1880, and many of them are also in several other hymn-books, including H. A. & M., Thring, Church Hys., Hy. Comp., &c., and some of the leading American collections.

Death and legacy

Havergal died of peritonitis near Caswell Bay on the Gower Peninsula in Wales at age 42. She is buried in the far western corner of the churchyard at St Peter's parish church, Astley, together with her father and near her sister, Maria Vernon Graham Havergal.
Her sisters saw much of her work published posthumously. Havergal College, a private girls' school in Toronto, is named after her. The composer Havergal Brian adopted the name as a tribute to the Havergal family.

Style and themes

Her hymns praised the love of God, and His way of salvation to this end, and for this object, her whole life and all her powers were consecrated. She lived and spoke in every line of her poetry.
Her religious views and theological bias were distinctly set forth in her poems, and may be described as mildly Calvinistic, without the severe dogmatic tenet of reprobation. The burden of her writings was a free and full salvation, through the Redeemer's merits, for every sinner who will receive it, and her life was devoted to the proclamation of this truth by personal labours, literary efforts, and earnest interest in Foreign Missions.

Selected works

Books

  1. A happy New Year! Even such may it be. From Under the Surface, 1874.
  2. Certainly I will be with thee. Birthday. September 1871, at Perry Barr. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  3. Church of God, beloved and chosen. 1873. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  4. God Almighty, King of nations. 1872. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  5. God doth not bid thee wait.. 22 October 1868, at Okehampton. Published in Ministry of Song, 1869, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  6. God of heaven, hear our singing. 22 October 1869, at Leamington. Published in her Twelve Sacred Songs for Little Singers, 1870, and her Life Chords, 1880.
  7. God will take care of you, All through the day. In Mrs. Brock's Children's Hymn Book, 1881.
  8. God's reiterated all. 1873, at Winterdyne. Published in Loyal Responses, 1878, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  9. Have you not a word for Jesus?. November 1871, at Perry Barr. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  10. He hath spoken in the darkness. 10 June 1869, at Neuhausen. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and in Life Mosaic, 1879.
  11. Hear the Father's ancient promise. August 1870. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  12. Holy and Infinite! Wiewless, Eternal. IST2. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  13. Holy brethren, called and chosen. 1872. of Snepp's Songs of Grace and Glory, 1876.
  14. I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus. September 1874, at Ormont Dessons. Published in Loyal Responses, 1878, and Life Chords, 1880. Havergal's tune, "Urbane", was composed for this hymn. The hymn was the author's "own favourite," and was found in her pocket Bible after her death.
  15. I bring my sins to Thee. June, 1870. Printed in the Sunday Magazine, 1870, and Home Words, 1872. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Chords, 1880.
  16. I could not do without Thee. 7 May 1873. Printed in Home Words, 1873, and published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  17. In full and glad surrender. Havergal's sister says this hymn was "The epitome of her life and the focus of its sunshine." It is a hymn of personal consecration to God at all times.
  18. In the ing there is weeping. 19 June 1869, at the Hotel Jungfraublick, Interlaken. "It rained all day, except a very bright interval before dinner. Curious long soft white clouds went slowly creeping along the Schynige Platte; I wrote "Evening Tears and Morning Songs." " Published in Under the Surface, 1874.
  19. Increase our faith, beloved Lord. In Loyal Responses, 1878, in 11 st. of 4 I., on St. Luke xvii. 5. It is usually given in an abridged form.
  20. Is it for me, dear Saviour?. November 1871, at Perry Barr. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  21. Israel of God, awaken. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  22. Jehovah's covenant shall endure., 1872. Published in Charles Busbridge Snepp's Songs of Grace and Glory, 1876.
  23. Jesus, blessed Saviour. 25 November 1872, at Leamington. Printed in the Day, spring Magazine, January 1873, and published in Life Chords, 1880.
  24. Jesus only! In the shadow. 4 December 1870, at Pyrmont Villa. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and in Life Mosaic, 1879.
  25. Joined to Christ by mystic union. May, 1871, at Perry Barr. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, Life Mosaic, 1879.
  26. Just when Thou wilt, 0 Master, call. In Loyal Responses, 1878, in 5 st. of 4 l., and Whiting's Hys. for the Church Catholic, 1882.
  27. King Eternal and Immortal. Written at Perry Willa, Perry Barr, 11 February 1871, and published in Snepp's Songs of Grace and Glory, 1876; Under the Surface, 1874; and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  28. Light after darkness, Gain after loss. In Sankey's Sac. Songs and Solos, from her Life Mosaic, 1879.
  29. Like a river glorious, Is God's perfect Peace. In her Loyal Responses, 1878, in 3 st. of 8 l., with the chorus, "Stayed upon Jehovah." In several collections.
  30. Master, speak! Thy servant heareth. Sunday evening, 19 May 1867, at Weston-super-Mare. Published in Ministry of Song, 1869, and Life Mosaic, 1879. It is very popular.
  31. New mercies, new blessings, new light on thy way. 1874, st Winterdyne. Published in Under His Shadow, 1879, Life Chords, 1880.
  32. Not your own, but His ye are. 21 January 1867. Published in Ministry of Song, 1869; Life Mosaic, 1879; and the Hyl. for Church Missions, 1884.
  33. Now let us sing the ' song. In her Life Mosaic, 1879; and W. R. Stevenson's School Hymnal, 1880.
  34. Now the daylight goes away. 17 October 1869, at Leamington. Published in Songs for Little Singers, 1870, and Life Chords, 1880. It originally read, "Now the light has gone away."
  35. Now the sowing and the weeping. 4 January 1870, at Leamington. Printed in Sunday at Home, 1871; and published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  36. O Glorious God and King. February 1872. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  37. O Saviour, precious holy! Saviour. November 1870, at Leamington. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  38. 0 thou chosen Church of Jesus. 6 April 1871. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  39. 0 what everlasting blessings God outpo His own. 12 August 1871, Perry Barr. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  40. Our Father, our Father, Who dwellest in light. 14 May 1872. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879. Miss Havergal's tune, Tertius, was composed for this hymn.
  41. Our Saviour and our King. May, 1871, at Perry Barr. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  42. Precious, precious blood of Jesus. September 1874, at Ormont Dessons. Published in Loyal Responses, 1878, and Life Chords, 1880.
  43. Sing, 0 heavens, the Lord hath done it. In The Life Mosaic, 1879, and the Universal H. Bk., 1885.
  44. Sit down beneath. His shadow. 27 November 1870, at Leamington. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  45. Sovereign Lord and gracious Master. 22 October 1871. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  46. Standing at the portal of the opening year. 4 January 1873. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Chords, 1880.
  47. To Thee, 0 Comforter divine. 11 August 1872, at Perry Barr. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879. Miss Havergal's tune, Tryphosa, was written for this hymn.
  48. True-hearted, whole-hearted, faithful and loyal. In her Loyal Responses, 1878, and the Universal Hymn Book, 1885.
  49. What know we, Holy God, of Thee!. 1872. Published in Under the Surface, 1874, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  50. Who is on the Lord's side!. 13 October 1877. Published in Loyal Responses, 1878, and Life Chords, 1880.
  51. With quivering heart and trembling will. 10 July 1866, at Luccombe Rectory. Published in Ministry of Song, 1869, and Life Mosaic, 1879.
  52. Will ye not come to Him for life?. 1873. Published in Snepp's Songs of Grace and Glory d: G., 1876.
  53. Worthy of all adoration. 26 February 1867, at Oakhampton. Published in Ministry of Song, 1869, and Life Mosaic, 1874. It is pt. iii. of the "Threefold Praise," and was suggested by the "Worthy is the Lamb," the "Hallelujah" and “Amen "choruses in Handel's Messiah.
  54. Ye who hear the blessed call. March, 1869, at Leamington. Published in Ministry of Song, 1869, and Life Mosaic, 1879. Suggested by, and written for, the Young Men's Christian Association.
  55. Yes, He knows the way is dreary. 1867. Published in Ministry of Song, 1869.

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