Frances Havergal (1836—1879) was an English hymn writer who wrote songs such as “Take My Life and Let it Be,” “Like a River Glorious” and “I Gave My Life for Thee.”
She was born Dec. 14, 1836, to William Henry and Jane Havergal in Worcestershire. Her father was an Anglican clergyman, composer and hymn writer.
At 14, Frances Havergal attended the school of Mrs. Teed, whose Christian influence resulted in her conversion. She later said, “I committed my soul to the Savior, and earth and heaven seemed brighter from that moment.”
Havergal loved to study the Bible. She read it morning and night and memorized large portions of it. As a young adult, she could recite the Gospels, the Epistles, Revelation, the Psalms and Isaiah, which was her favorite book. Later she memorized the Minor Prophets.
Language study
An exceptionally intelligent woman, Havergal studied Hebrew and Greek and was also fluent in French and German. She was a brilliant singer and pianist and used all her gifts for God’s glory.
Havergal prayed as she wrote her hymns. “Writing is praying with me,” she said. “I ask that at every line He would give me not merely thoughts and power, but also every word, even the very rhymes.”
She recorded the story of how she came to write “Take My Life and Let it Be.” She had made a five-day visit to a family’s home. The 10 people in the home were either unconverted or were converted but were not rejoicing Christians. She saw the visit as an opportunity to witness about Christ.
“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.” She was too happy to sleep the last night of her visit. She praised God and renewed her own consecration. Then she wrote her most famous hymn.
Other writing
In addition to hymns, she wrote poems, devotional books for children and adults and religious tracts.
Havergal never had a home of her own. She lived with her parents and then with her married sisters, helping them with their households and teaching their children. She was active in the YWCA and was a generous giver to the Anglican Church Missionary Society.
Havergal enjoyed traveling in Britain and Europe. She died at the age of 42 while vacationing in Wales. It is thought she died of peritonitis, an intestinal condition. Her last words were “So beautiful to go.”
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