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Frances Havergal

Frances Ridley Havergal was born in Astley, England. Her father was the hymnist William Havergal. She grew up in a literary and musical environment that encouraged her as a Christian singer and hymn writer. She showed she was gifted at an early age; she read at the age of 3, at the age of 4 she began reading and memorizing the Bible. By 7 she began to write poems.

She was proficient in several modern languages, along with Latin, Greek and Hebrew. A dedicated Biblical scholar, Miss Havergal memorized the New Testament, Psalms, Isaiah and the Minor Prophets.

Although she was highly educated and cultured, she lived a life of simple faith and confidence in her Lord. She never wrote a line without first praying over it. She said,

"I believe my King suggests a thought, and whispers me a musical line or two, and then I look up and thank Him delightedly and go on with it. That is how my hymns come."

"Writing is praying with me. You know a child would look up at every sentence and say, 'And what shall I say next?' That is just what I do; I ask Him at every line He would give me not merely thoughts and power, but also every word, even the very rhymes."

Frail of health all her life, when Miss Havergal was told that death was near, she exclaimed once again: "If I am really going, it is too good to be true!" Her sister reported:

"She looked up steadfastly, as if she saw the Lord; and surely nothing less heavenly could have reflected such a glorious radiance upon her face. For ten minutes we watched that almost visible meeting with her King, and her countenance was so glad, as if she were already talking to Him! Then she tried to sing; but after one sweet, high note her voice failed and as her brother commended her soul into the Redeemer's hand, she passed away."

Miss Havergal's works were included in many volumes, including The Ministry of Song, published probably in 1870, 5^th edition, 1874; "Under the Surface, 1874; Loyal Responses, 1878; Life Mosaic, 1879; Life Chords, 1880; and Life Echoes, 1883. She also wrote devotional tracts and narratives. Her writings were frequently printed by J. & R. Parlane as leaflets and by Caswell & Co. as ornamental cards.

Page numbers in Trinity Hymnal (1990) and The Worshiping Church (1990)

Title	Trinity	Worshiping
Golden Harps are Sounding	293
I am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus	504	524
Jesus, Master, Whose I Am	590
Like A River Glorious	699	594
Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak	560	574
O Savior, Precious Savior	159
Take My Life, and Let It Be	585	568
Thou Art Coming, O My Savior	326
Thy Life Was Given For Me	639
Who Is On the Lord's Side?	587	666