126. Thou art coming, O my Savior
Frances R. Havergal, 1836-79
The first hymn Miss Havergal wrote after Advent Sunday, December 2, 1873, when she “first saw clearly the blessedness of true consecration.”
Frances Ridley Havergal was the daughter of Rev. Wm. H. Havergal, an Anglican clergyman who was greatly interested in the hymns and music of the church and composed a number of tunes still in use. His tune, “Evan,” is used in the Hymnary ([153] and [253]). Frances thus grew up in a cultured religious environment in which hymns and church music held a prominent place. She was handicapped by a frail body and died at the early age of forty-three. But throughout her short life, from the time of her confirmation at seventeen until the end, she had an unbounded joy in Christian service. No suffering could diminish her faith in the grace of God through Jesus Christ. Despite her poor health, she was a devoted student of the Bible and was able to repeat from memory the four Gospels, the Epistles, Revelations, all the Psalms, Isaiah, and the Minor Prophets. Besides writing many letters counselling those who sought her advice, she wrote devotional books and composed sacred hymns and poems, always emphasizing consecration and service. She made a considerable contribution to the hymnody of the church. Six of her compositions are to be found in the Hymnary ([126], [190], [215], [219], [296], [380]).
MUSIC. BEVERLEY was composed for this hymn for use in Hymns Ancient and Modern, Rev. ed., 1875.
For comments on W. H. Monk see [Hymn 40].