For more than 20 years, Henry Francis Lyte was the devoted pastor of a small church in the fishing village of Brixham, England. Throughout his ministry he struggled with chronic respiratory illness, which grew worse over the years.
Eventually, his doctor urged him to leave England — damp and dreary as it is — and relocate to the warmth of southern France, at least for the winter, in hopes that it might prolong his life.
This was in 1847. Shortly before he was scheduled to travel, he preached what would become his farewell message to the congregation that he so dearly loved. Around this same time, as he reflected on the uncertainty of his future, he wrote the poem that became the hymn Abide With Me.
This hymn is a servant’s petition for God’s comforting presence as his life’s light grows slowly dim. It says…
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Soon after writing these words, Lyte did leave England in hopes that the warmer weather could restore his health. It did not. He died later that year at the age of fifty-four.
Several years later, composer William Monk wrote the melody we now sing with Lyte’s lyrics. The tune is called Eventide. At the time that Monk was putting Lyte’s words to music, he was grieving the death of his own young daughter.
Together, these gifted servants joined in their suffering to share this song of hope to comfort all who hear.
Abide With Me reminds us that God’s greatest gift is His presence. Just as Jesus made this promise to every believer…
“Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)
