Sarah Mitchell
Abide with Me is a Christian hymn written by Scottish Anglican cleric Henry Francis Lyte in 1847 as he was dying from tuberculosis. It is a prayer for God to remain with the speaker throughout life, in the face of adversity, and through death. The hymn is traditionally sung at the FA Cup Final and has been featured at the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final and the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony. While Abide with Me is considered a Christian hymn, it is not clear whether it is specifically a Catholic hymn.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author | Henry Francis Lyte |
| Year of Publication | 1847 |
| Tune | EVENTIDE |
| Composer | William Henry Monk |
| Religion | Christian |
| Type of Hymn | Prayer |
| Occasions | FA Cup Final, Rugby League Challenge Cup Final, London 2012 Olympics |
| Lyrics Availability | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Abide With Me is a Christian hymn
"Abide With Me" is a Christian hymn written by Scottish Anglican cleric Henry Francis Lyte in 1847, the same year he died. The hymn is a prayer for God to remain with the speaker throughout life, during trials and tribulations, and even after death. It is often sung to the tune "Eventide" by English organist William Henry Monk.
The text of the hymn is inspired by Luke 24:29, in which two travellers to Emmaus ask Jesus to "stay with us, for it is nearly evening." However, "Abide With Me" is not just a hymn for the evening; the evening is a metaphor for the end of life, a transition from life's "little day". The first verse alludes to this, with the line "Abide with me: fast falls the eventide".
The hymn has a personal and intimate tone, with the speaker asking God to stay by their side through life's challenges and hardships. The speaker expresses their fear of the devil and death, and finds comfort and strength in God's presence. The penultimate verse draws on text from 1 Corinthians 15:55, asking, "O death, where is thy sting?".
"Abide With Me" has become a well-loved and widely recognised hymn, often sung at funerals and memorial services. It has also been adopted as a traditional song at sporting events, such as the FA Cup Final and the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final. The hymn's enduring popularity can be attributed to its powerful message of solace and hope, which resonates with people from all walks of life.
While "Abide With Me" is a Christian hymn, it has also been included in lists of top Catholic songs and hymns. It is worth noting that the Anglican Church and the Catholic Church share many hymns and aspects of worship, and it is not uncommon for there to be overlap in their hymnody.
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The hymn was written by Scottish Anglican cleric Henry Francis Lyte
"Abide with Me" is a Christian hymn written by Scottish Anglican cleric Henry Francis Lyte in 1847, the same year he died. Lyte was born in 1793 in Ednam, near Kelso, Rosburghshire, Scotland, and passed away in November 1847 in Nice, France. He was an Anglican cleric and a curate in County Wexford from 1815 to 1818. Later in his life, he became the vicar of All Saints' Church in Brixham, Devon, England.
Lyte wrote "Abide with Me" in the late summer of 1847, just a few months before his death. The hymn is a prayer to God, asking for his presence and guidance through life's challenges and trials, and even in death. The opening line of the hymn alludes to Luke 24:29, where two travellers to Emmaus ask Jesus to "stay with us, for it is nearly evening." However, the hymn is not just about the evening of a day but uses the setting sun as a metaphor for the end of one's life.
Lyte had a talent for poetry from a young age. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin, where he won prizes for his poems on three occasions. He decided to become a minister and was ordained into the Church of England in 1815. He served several parishes, including Lower Brixham, a small fishing village in Devonshire, from 1823 until his death in 1847.
Lyte wrote a significant number of poems, hymns, and psalm paraphases during his lifetime. "Abide with Me" is perhaps his most well-known work and has been included in many hymnals and songbooks. The hymn has also been adapted to various tunes, with the most common one being "Eventide" by William Henry Monk.
The hymn has been published and sung widely, even featuring in the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics as a tribute to the victims of the 7/7 terrorist attacks. It is also traditionally sung at the FA Cup Final and has been adopted by rugby league fans, who sing it before the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final.
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It was written in 1847 as Lyte was dying from tuberculosis
"Abide with Me" is a Christian hymn written by Scottish Anglican cleric Henry Francis Lyte in 1847 as he was dying from tuberculosis. It is a prayer for God to remain present with the speaker throughout life, through trials, and through death. The opening line alludes to Luke 24:29, "Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent". The penultimate verse draws on text from 1 Corinthians 15:55, "O death, where is thy sting?".
Lyte was orphaned at a young age and initially pursued a career in medicine. However, he also had a keen interest in poetry and was awarded prizes for his poems on three different occasions while at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. In 1815, he was ordained into the Church of England and served several parishes, including Lower Brixham, a small fishing village in Devonshire, from 1823 until his death in 1847. Lyte wrote a significant number of poems, hymns, and psalm paraphrases, many of which were published during his lifetime.
Lyte suffered from poor health for most of his life and regularly travelled abroad in search of relief. In the late summer of 1847, he announced his intention to preach one more time to his congregation, despite his declining health. His family was concerned about the potential risks to his health, but he was determined to fulfil his wish. After delivering his final sermon, he presented a relative with the hymn "Abide with Me", which he had composed himself.
Just weeks later, on 20 November 1847, Lyte passed away in Nice, then part of the Kingdom of Sardinia. The hymn was first sung at his funeral. Although Lyte wrote his own tune for the hymn, it is most often sung to the tune "Eventide" by English organist William Henry Monk. The hymn has since become a well-known and beloved Christian hymn, often used in solemn occasions and before sports events, such as the FA Cup Final and the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final.
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The hymn was first sung at Lyte's funeral
"Abide with Me" is a Christian hymn written by Scottish Anglican cleric Henry Francis Lyte in 1847, the same year he died of tuberculosis. The hymn is a prayer for God to remain with the speaker throughout life and beyond death. The opening line of the hymn, ""Abide with me, fast falls the eventide", is based on Luke 24:29, "Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent".
The story goes that Lyte wrote the hymn after visiting his sick friend, William Augustus Le Hunte, in 1820. As his friend lay on his deathbed, he repeatedly said the phrase, "Abide with Me". After Le Hunte died, Lyte wrote the hymn and gave the lyrics to the deceased's family. Lyte wrote music to accompany his words, but the melody most associated with the hymn was written 14 years later by English organist William Henry Monk. The tune, titled "Eventide", was inspired by the death of Monk's three-year-old daughter.
"Abide with Me" is also well-known for its association with sports. It has been sung at every FA Cup Final since 1927 and at every Rugby League Challenge Cup Final since 1929. The hymn was featured in the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, sung by Emeli Sandé as a tribute to the victims of the 7/7 terrorist attacks.
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The hymn is a prayer for God to remain present with the speaker throughout life, death, and beyond
"Abide with Me" is a Christian hymn by Scottish Anglican cleric Henry Francis Lyte. It was written in 1847, the year of his death, and was inspired by Luke 24:29, in which two travellers to Emmaus ask Jesus to "stay with us, for it is nearly evening". The hymn is not a prayer for the evening of a day, but rather, the evening is a metaphor for the end of life.
In the face of life's challenges and the inevitability of death, the speaker pleads for God's abiding presence. They acknowledge that God has been with them since their "early youth", even during times of rebellion and hardship. The speaker expresses their trust in God, who has been their guide and source of strength. With God by their side, the speaker fears no foe, and their tears have no bitterness.
The hymn continues with the speaker's plea for God to remain with them as they transition from life to death and beyond. They ask God to hold the cross before their "closing eyes", guiding them from the gloom of earth to the glory of heaven. The speaker's faith is unwavering, and they triumph even in death, knowing that God will abide with them.
"Abide with Me" has become a beloved hymn, often sung at funerals and memorial services, as well as at sporting events such as the FA Cup Final and the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final. It has also been featured at significant ceremonies, such as the 2012 London Olympics, where it was chosen as a tribute to the victims of the 7/7 terrorist attacks.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, "Abide with Me" is a Christian hymn that is popular among Catholics.
"Abide with Me" was written by Scottish Anglican cleric Henry Francis Lyte in 1847.
"Abide with Me" is a prayer for God to remain present with the speaker throughout life, through trials, and through death.
The hymn was first sung at Lyte's funeral in 1847.
The hymn is traditionally sung at the FA Cup Final about 15 minutes before kickoff. It has also been featured at the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final and the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony.
