When you sing a hymn, do you carefully observe the words? Do you ask yourself what the inspiration behind the writer’s pen is? How was it set to music? Did the hymn author also write the music, or did someone else? In the case of Frances Ridley Havergal, she sometimes wrote the hymns and sometimes the music. In fact, there's a good chance you have heard one of her hymns.
Many people know the story behind “It is Well with My Soul” or “Silent Night.” But do you know the story behind “I Gave My Life for Thee” by Frances Ridley Havergal?
When Frances went to Germany with her father in 1858, they visited a pastor’s home. One wall held a picture of the crucifixion with the inscribed words, “I did this for thee. What hast thou done for me?” She took a pencil and paper and wrote the words to this familiar hymn. But she didn’t like what she had written. She decided to throw the paper into the fireplace. The story is told that the paper came out of the fire untouched. She showed what she had written to her father, who encouraged her to keep it and write the music. She did! Then some years later, Philip P. Bliss wrote the tune we know today.
10 Important Events in the Life of Frances Ridley Havergal
1. Frances Ridley Havergal was born December 14, 1836, in Astley, Worcestershire, England. Her father, William Henry Havergal, was a well-known writer and publisher of church music. He was also the vicar at Astley Anglican church.
2. “Fanny dear, pray to God to prepare you for all that He is preparing you.” Her mother, Jane Head Havergal, shared this with eleven-year-old Frances before she died on July 5, 1848. The words were something she treasured.
3. Frances started reading around age three. A year later, she was reading the Bible. At age seven, she wrote poems and kept them in a notebook. When her brother, Frank, was away, she wrote him letters in rhyme. Here is an example:
Sunday is a pleasant day,
When we to church do go;
For there we sing and read and pray,
And hear the sermon too.
And if we love to pray and read
While we are in our youth,
The Lord will help us in our need
And keep us in His truth.
4. At age 14, Frances came to the saving knowledge of Christ. Two women were instrumental in helping her understand what “real faith” means. The first was Mrs. Teed at the boarding school Frances attended. The next individual was Miss Caroline Cook, who later became her stepmother.
5. Frances was proficient in Hebrew, Greek, German, and French. She memorized large portions of Scripture—all the Gospels, the Epistles, Revelation, the Psalms, Isaiah, and the Minor Prophets. She was faithful to reading the Scripture morning and evening. Frances was gifted musically—a talented pianist and singer.
6. They lived on different continents and never met, but Fanny Crosby and Frances corresponded regularly. There are similarities in their lives:
- Both dealt with health issues. Crosby was blind, and Frances dealt with a great deal of pain (in the Victorian definition, she had “delicate health”).
- Both came to faith while they were young girls. Then as young women, they surrendered their lives with a deeper commitment.
- Both were singers, instrumentalists, and writers known for their phenomenal memories.
“An English Tribute to Fanny Crosby” is a long poem Frances wrote and sent to Fanny.
7. In 1874, an economic crash in America impacted Frances’ American publisher, whom she had signed an exclusive contract with. She lost income until things improved. Then, in 1876, she lost her complete works of Songs of Grace and Glory when her British publisher’s offices burned down. She created the manuscript again—words and music.
8. Additional health issues plagued Frances Ridley Havergal. She encountered a near-death experience from a climbing accident in 1873. Then, she had typhoid fever (1874).
9. Frances died on June 3, 1879, at age 42. Her life motto is “ever, only, ALL for Thee.” Before she died, she faintly sang the first verse of a hymn written by Mary Jane Walker. Her final response to her doctor when he told her she would pass soon was, “Beautiful—too good to be true!”
10. Many things about Frances’ life are unknown. However, we know she committed to sharing Christ through serving and teaching. Also, she was known for praying over every line she wrote and for those she met.
10 Famous Hymns by Frances Ridley Havergal
These are some of Frances Ridley Havergal’s best-known hymns.
1. Take My Life, and Let It Be
5. Ture Hearted, Whole Hearted
6. Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak
10. O Christmas, merry Christmas! or Bells Across the Snow
What Else Did Frances Ridley Havergal Write?
Frances wrote many works, including letters, Bible studies, and books for children. One particular book she wrote for children, Bruey and the Four Happy Days, is an autobiographical Frances wrote after her mother died. Songs of Grace and Glory is a hymnbook she wrote with hymnologist Charles Busbridge Snepp.
The best resource for finding her writings is to go to the Havergal Trust, founded by David Chalkley. Since 1998, the Trust has worked hard to resurrect and publish her works. The works resurrected so far include the following:
1. The Poetry of Frances Ridley Havergal
2. My Song is Love Unknown: A Collection of Christian Poems
3. Letters, Swiss Letters, and Alpine Poems, and Lilies and Shamrocks
4. Royal Commandments (The Five Royal Books)
5. The Music of Frances Ridley Havergal
6. Little Pillows, Morning Bells, and Morning Stars: The Children’s Books of Frances Ridley Havergal)
8. One Hour with Jesus and Encouragements to Bible Study
10. Red Letter Days
As of this writing, the Havergal Trust has announced it will publish Havergal’s complete works in a five-volume set.
Inspiring Quotes by Frances Ridley Havergal
“Writing is praying with me, for I never seem to write even a verse by myself, and feel like a little child writing; you know how a child would look up at every sentence and say, ‘And what shall I say next?’ That is just what I do; I ask that a every line He would give me, not merely thoughts and power, but also every word, even the very rhymes.” (quoted in “The Life of Frances Ridley Havergal, 1836-1879” by Sally Davy)
2. “The Master has not put a chest of poetic gold into my possession and said, ‘Now use it as you like!’ But He keeps the gold and gives it to me piece by piece just when He will and as much as He will, and no more.” (quoted in 50 People Every Christian Should Know)
3. “Yes, it was on Advent Sunday, December 2, 1873, I first saw clearly the blessedness of true consecration. I saw it as a flash of electric light…. There must be full surrender before there can be full blessedness.” (quoted in 50 People Every Christian Should Know)
4. “Consecration is not so much a step as a course, not so much an act as a position to which a course of action inseparably belongs…. Does this mean that we are always to be doing some definitely religious work, as it is called? No, but all that we do is to be always definitely done for Him.” (Quoted in Kept for the Master’s Use)
5. “The Lord has shown me another little step, and, of course, I have taken it with extreme delight. ‘Take my silver and my gold’ now means shipping off all my ornaments to the church Missionary House, including a jewel cabinet that is really fit for a countess, where all will be accepted and disposed of for me…. Nearly fifty articles are being packed up. I don’t think I have ever packed a box with such pleasure.” (August 1878 letter to a friend, after she had written the hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be.” Quoted in 101 Hymn Stories: The Inspiring True Stories Behind 101 Favorite Hymns)
6. “I went for a little visit of five days. There are ten persons in the house; some were unconverted and long prayed for, some converted by not rejoicing Christians. He gave me the prayer, “Lord, give me all in this house.” And He just did. Before I left the house, everyone had gotten a blessing. The last night of my visit, I was too happy to sleep and passed most of the night in renewal of my consecration, and these little couplets formed themselves, and chimed in my heart one after another till they finished with “every only, ALL FOR THEE!” (the story behind the song “Take My Life and Let it Be,” quoted in 101 Hymn Stories: The Inspiring True Stories Behind 101 Favorite Hymns)
Many Havergal quotes can easily be found in Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman (for example, see the January 3 and April 13 entries).
What Can We Learn from Frances Ridley Havergal?
There are several clear lessons we can learn from Frances’ life. Her many written works life show that writing can be a ministry, not just a business. Her musical performances show that performing can be an opportunity to glorify God.
Most importantly, she consistently showed her love for Jesus and shared Him with others in everything she said and did.
The title “the consecration poet” describes Frances’ life very well. Her commitment to Christ was so great, she was solely dedicated to reflecting Christ in everything she did.
Frances’ life was not easy. She endured many trials, yet she persevered, leaving us “a beautiful ministry of written words” through poems, devotionals, prose, hymns, and books, pointing others to Christ.
Bibliography and Additional Reading
Havergal Trust, founded by David L. Chalkley.
“The Life of Francis Ridley Havergal, 1836-1879” by Sally Davey.
Then Sings My Soul: 150 of the World’s Greatest Hymn Stories by Robert J. Morgan. Thomas Nelson, 2011.
Then Sings My Soul, Book 2: 150 of the World’s Greatest Hymn Stories by Robert J. Morgan. Thomas Nelson, 2004.
101 Hymn Stories: The Inspiriting True Stories Behind 101 Favorite Hymns by Kenneth W. Osbeck. Kregel Publications, 2012.
Women of Sacred Song: Meditations on Hymns by Women by Margaret and Daniel Partner. Fleming H. Revell, 1999.
40 Favorite Hymns on the Christian Life: A Closer Look at Their Spiritual and Poetic Meaning, by Leland Ryken. P & R Publications, 2019.
50 People Every Christian Should Know: Learning from Spiritual Giants of the Faith, Warren W. Wiersbe. Baker Books, 2009.
Photo Credit: Public Domain photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Laura Lee Leathers is a writer and speaker. Imagine Lois Lane, over sixty-five, and living on a farm. Her metropolis is the area of freelance writing. Her primary love interest is the Word of God. She digs for information, interviews fascinating people, offers a cup of biblical hospitalit-tea, encourages, and helps others with the ‘how-to’s’ of life. To sign up for her newsletter, connect with her at http://lauraleeleathers.com - - - “Helping You Flourish in Faith & Finish Well by His Word”
