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1836-1879
This poet, hymn-writer, musician, composer and linguist, was born at the Rectory in Astley, Worcestershire. She was the youngest child of Canon W. H. Havergal, composer of hymn tunes and sacred music. From early years she showed exceptional intellectual power, but owing to her delicate health systematic study was discouraged. In 1845 her father became incumbent of St. Nicholas church, Worcester. His failing health led to a move to Shareshill, Staffordshire, in 1860, until he retired to Leamington seven years later. Throughout this time Frances lived at home, interspersed with stays with her married sisters in Bewdley and Stourport, helping as governess to their children, and as a contralto soloist with the Kidderminster Philharmonic Society. She contributed short stories and verses to Good news, the Church of England magazine, and other Christian publications, and was much in demand as a speaker and correspondent. During five visits to Switzerland she enjoyed mountain walking and climbing in the Alps.
Her first published book of poetry was The ministry of song in 1869. After her father's death she prepared Havergal's psalmody for publication, and assisted Rev. C.B.Snepp of Perry Bar, Birmingham, in compiling the hymn book Songs of grace and glory. Much of her royalties went to support the Church Missionary Society. In 1878 she moved to Mumbles, Swansea, where on 3 June, 1879 she died of hepatitis aged 42. The plaque outside the house (now named 'Havergal') where she died describes her as a 'Christian Poetess and Hymnwriter'. She was buried beside her father's grave in Astley churchyard.
"My sister's books are not about religion, but about the Lord Jesus as a personal, living Saviour." - Maria Havergal
"She could never have written as she has except for an extraordinary intimacy with God." - Rev. C.H. Spurgeon (1834-92), minister of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Southwark, London
Of her 71 hymns in English (also 1 in French) and 3 hymn tunes, the following are among her best known, and are included in the 2004 edition of Christian Hymns:-
The ministry of song (1869) verse
Under the surface (1874) verse
Morning bells (1876) for children
Loyal responses (1878)devotional
Life chords (1880) devotional
Under his shadow (1881) verse
Life echoes (1883) devotional
Coming to the King (1886) devotional
Royal commandments (1886) devotional
Her second collection of poems, Under the surface, is available in the West Midlands Creative Literature Collection.
Frances Ridley Havergal; A Saint of God (1927)
Frances Ridley Havergal (1937)
Devotion, Desire and Heart: Frances Ridley Havergal. Gower Vol. XLVIII (1997).
Frances Ridley Havergal; Worcestershire
Hymnwriter (1979)
[Published by the Havergal Society to mark the the centenary of
the author's death.]
Memorials of Frances Ridley
Havergal (1880)
Letters of Frances Ridley Havergal (1885)
Frances Ridley Havergal's Last Week
Frances Ridley Havergal [in Excellent women by Various writers]
There is a good range of biographical resources on the Wholesome Words website at http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/biorphavergal.html
The Havergal Trust is based in the U.S.A and their website has extracts from the Five Royal Books by Frances Ridley Havergal, which they publish. There is a biography of the author at http://www.havergaltrust.com/frhavergal.html, which is linked from the Daily Devotionals page.
Shropshire County Library Service wish to thank Gary Gregor for his help and assistance in providing information and material relating to Frances Ridley Havergal.
Page created 25 November 2001 and last
updated 14 October 2005
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