One of the best-loved of all hymns in the English language.
One Sunday evening in 1847, the Revd Henry Lyte was overwhelmed with sadness. He had just celebrated his last communion service at Brixham after twenty-four years of ministry, and was preparing to go abroad in a last effort to save his failing health. As he looked out to sea these words came to him, as they came to nurse Edith Cavell shortly before she was shot in 1915.