Henry Francis Lyte, faithfully ministered in the fishing village of lower Brixham, for 23 years. He and his wife Anne, lived in an elegant estate called Berry Head. A home that had been, reportedly, provided by King William IV, who had been most impressed with Henry's Ministry. Sitting right on the edge of the coast, its views were breath-takingly beautiful. Henry would walk in the tranquility of the trails around the Estate where he wrote his sermons, poems, and hymns.

But Henry suffered a lung condition, which due to the damp winters in lower Devonshire, England had deteriorated into tuberculosis. On September 4, 1847, at age 54, he entered his pulpit with difficulty and preached what was to be his last sermon. He had planned a therapeutic holiday in Italy. “I must put everything in order before I leave,'' he said, “because I have no idea how long I will be away.”

That afternoon, after a walk along the coast, in pensive prayer he retired to his room. An hour later, he emerged with a written copy of “Abide with Me”. It is unknown whether he wrote the poem in that hour, or if he came across it while packing for his trip. Whichever the case, he had prayerfully revised and completed it that evening.

Soon after, Henry embraced his family a final time and departed for Italy. Stopping in Avignon, France, he revised “Abide with Me” once again, and then sent it to his wife. On November 20, 1847, after arriving on the French Riviera, his sickly lungs finally gave out. In his final hours, he was attended by a fellow English clergyman, Rev. Manning of Chichester, who had happened to be staying in the same Hotel. Henry's last words were, “Peace! Joy!”.

When news of his death reached Brixham, the fishermen of the village asked Henry's son-in-law, who was also a minister, to hold a memorial service. It was on this occasion that “Abide with Me” was first sung.

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!²

Suggested Prayer: Dear Lord, what a comfort to know that you are always with me and that your loving arms will uphold me till the very end. Allow me to abide in you, so that my life will continuously reflect your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1. John 15:7 (ESV).

2. “Abide With Me”, hymn by Henry F. Lyte (1847).

Today’s Encounter was written by: Veronica B.