English Baptist Anne Steele (1716–1778) was the only woman hymn writer of the 18th century. She was the first woman whose hymns were used extensively in hymnbooks.
This month is the 300th anniversary of her birth.
The eldest daughter of William Steele, she was born May 1716 in Broughton, England. Her father, a timber merchant, was a lay preacher for 60 years at a Baptist church in Broughton. When she was three years old, her mother died.
Poetical compositions
Since her family was prosperous, she received her education at boarding schools. Her family regularly read literature in their home and she entertained friends with her poetical compositions.
When she was 14, she joined her father’s church and was baptized.
As a teen she had chronic malaria, stomach pain and severe teeth pain. When she was 19, she was thrown from a horse, resulting in a severe hip injury. Although she had health problems all her life, she remained cheerful.
Steele received marriage proposals but decided to remain single. She lived with her father and stepmother who cared for her health needs.
Along with writing poetry, Steele wrote hymns for many years but was reluctant to have them published. When she did decide to publish she wrote under the pen name “Theodosia.” On Nov. 29, 1757, her father wrote in his diary: “This day Nanny sent part of her composition to London to be printed. I entreat a gracious God, who enabled and stirred her up to such a work, to direct in it and bless it for the good of many.”
In 1760 she published two volumes of “Poems on Subjects Chiefly Devotional,” which contained 144 hymns, 34 Psalms and 50 poems set to verse. Her hymns were extremely popular, especially in Baptist hymnals. Two years after her death, her book had another edition.
In 1808, Trinity Church, an Episcopal church in Boston, published its own hymnal. Out of the 152 hymns in the volume, Steele had written 59. In the early 19th century, it was highly unusual that a Baptist writer would compose a third of the hymns in an Episcopal hymnal.
The complete work, “Hymns, Psalms and Poems” by Steele, was published in 1863.
Music historians have described her hymns as beautiful, natural and pleasing in imagery, and full of genuine Christian feeling.
Her most popular hymn has been “Father, Whate’er of Earthly Bliss,” a hymn that turns earthly loss into a spirit of thankfulness.
Hymn writing
Another enduring hymn, “Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul,” was recorded in 1998 by Indelible Grace, a Christian group. Following is the first stanza:
“Dear refuge of my weary soul,
On Thee, when sorrows rise:
On Thee, when waves of trouble roll,
My fainting hope relies.”
During the last nine years of her life, Steele was confined to her bed.
She died Nov. 11, 1778. Her last words were, “I know my Redeemer liveth.” She is buried in Broughton Cemetery.
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