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Frances
This portrait was made in Frances’ last year, when she was visiting friends in London, in February 1879 (after her 42nd birthday on December 14). There are strong reasons to think that this portrait is in no way flattering but gives an accurate copy of how she looked at that time. Ira Sankey, D. L. Moody’s song leader, visited her weeks before her very unexpected early death, and he later commented on how young she looked; others also commented on how she looked younger than her age in years. Both Frances and her family would have accepted only an accurate, realistic, truthful portrait, never a flattering one. The brooch was a gift to her from her father, having Frances’ personal emblem, a harp; this was one of very few pieces of jewelry she kept, clearly special to her, and she had months earlier sold nearly all her other jewelry, to give the proceeds to the support of foreign missions. She was full of life and love, glowing Christ, and those who knew her or saw and heard her realized what can scarcely be conveyed on paper. In this way her sister Miriam wrote of how she sang “in quick tune, and with the spirit which only those who heard her can imagine” (from the small book Footprints and Living Songs, the essay on Frances’ hymns by Miriam Crane). Her sister Maria was quoted in the following notice printed in the newspaper The Christian for July 3, 1879: “THE LATE MISS F. RIDLEY HAVERGAL.—Mr. T. J. Hughes, of 2 Elm Row, Hampstead [London], has shown us a portrait in chalk for which Miss Havergal sat to him several times. This likeness is recommended by her sister, Miss M. V. G. Havergal, as being so life-like. Orders for photographic copies, at a guinea each, may be sent to Mr. Hughes.”
Will I like the books?
Here’s what others have had to say after encountering Frances’ work…
Like being discipled by an older godly woman
I grew up in the church and was a voracious reader of biographies. But I never had any exposure to Frances Ridley Havergal until recently. Reading her work is like being discipled by an older, godly woman. She lived in a time when there was so much more light - and it is noticeable. She is also simply delightful! Reading her letters, you feel like you know her. Highly, highly recommend adding this to your collection!
Rebekah
5
2019-06-26T06:36:35+00:00
I grew up in the church and was a voracious reader of biographies. But I never had any exposure to Frances Ridley Havergal until recently. Reading her work is like being discipled by an older, godly woman. She lived in a time when there was so much more light - and it is noticeable. She is also simply delightful! Reading her letters, you feel like you know her. Highly, highly recommend adding this to your collection!
https://www.havergaltrust.com/testimonials/like-being-discipled-by-an-older-godly-woman/
Queen Victoria Praises “Sacred Songs for Little Singers”
“Little singers and their teachers will rejoice greatly over this admirably conceived and executed collection of twelve songs. The object has been to provide these small folk with vocal music, words and notes of which shall be alike pure, and which shall be, as regards compass and style, generally within the ordinary standard of their capacity. These conditions have been entirely fulfilled, and our young friends may be safely entrusted with his little book, which is full of sweet, happy thoughts. The subjects of its dozen songs are, respectively, ‘Flowers,’ ‘Sunday,’ ‘Evening Prayer,’ ‘Stars,’ ‘My Little Tree,’ ‘Thy Kingdom Come,’ ‘The Moon,’ ‘Jessie’s Friend,’ The Bower,’ ‘Trust,’ ‘The Dying Sister,’ and ‘The Angel’s Song.’ The merit of these is so equal that we can hardly say which are our particular favourites. Perhaps ‘Flowers,’ ‘Jessie’s Friend,’ and ‘The Angel’s Song,’ are those we shall longest remember; the first is quite gay, the second full of tender sweetness, and the last has a breadth and dignity quite remarkable, considering the limited means employed. We must not omit to name the service a sister art has contributed towards the general attractiveness of this little volume; the pictorial designs and their engraving on wood being of the very best, and illustrating the subjects of the several songs in the happiest manner.”
— The Queen, Oct. 22, 1870.
2019-07-29T00:50:10+00:00
— The Queen, Oct. 22, 1870.
“Little singers and their teachers will rejoice greatly over this admirably conceived and executed collection of twelve songs. The object has been to provide these small folk with vocal music, words and notes of which shall be alike pure, and which shall be, as regards compass and style, generally within the ordinary standard of their capacity. These conditions have been entirely fulfilled, and our young friends may be safely entrusted with his little book, which is full of sweet, happy thoughts. The subjects of its dozen songs are, respectively, ‘Flowers,’ ‘Sunday,’ ‘Evening Prayer,’ ‘Stars,’ ‘My Little Tree,’ ‘Thy Kingdom Come,’ ‘The Moon,’ ‘Jessie’s Friend,’ The Bower,’ ‘Trust,’ ‘The Dying Sister,’ and ‘The Angel’s Song.’ The merit of these is so equal that we can hardly say which are our particular favourites. Perhaps ‘Flowers,’ ‘Jessie’s Friend,’ and ‘The Angel’s Song,’ are those we shall longest remember; the first is quite gay, the second full of tender sweetness, and the last has a breadth and dignity quite remarkable, considering the limited means employed. We must not omit to name the service a sister art has contributed towards the general attractiveness of this little volume; the pictorial designs and their engraving on wood being of the very best, and illustrating the subjects of the several songs in the happiest manner.”
https://www.havergaltrust.com/testimonials/queen-victoria-praises-sacred-songs-for-little-singers/
Condensed spiritual meat of the finest quality
We have been charmed with Miss Havergal’s exquisite little books upon the King, his commandments, invitations, and bounties; they are each one rich with food for the mind and cheer for the heart. Condensed spiritual meat of the finest quality, we might call them. She now most fitly closes the series with “Loyal Responses.” These are choice poems, a few of which, such as— “Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee,” are well known to the Christian public. Most of the others are new, and exceedingly good. The little book is a marvellous shillingsworth of gracious minstrelsy.
—Charles H. Spurgeon, in a review of Loyal Responses; or, Daily Melodies for the King’s Minstrels by Frances Ridley Havergal), published in the February, 1879 issue of Spurgeon’s magazine, The Sword and the Trowel.
2019-07-29T00:47:09+00:00
—Charles H. Spurgeon, in a review of Loyal Responses; or, Daily Melodies for the King’s Minstrels by Frances Ridley Havergal), published in the February, 1879 issue of Spurgeon’s magazine, The Sword and the Trowel.
We have been charmed with Miss Havergal’s exquisite little books upon the King, his commandments, invitations, and bounties; they are each one rich with food for the mind and cheer for the heart. Condensed spiritual meat of the finest quality, we might call them. She now most fitly closes the series with “Loyal Responses.” These are choice poems, a few of which, such as— “Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee,” are well known to the Christian public. Most of the others are new, and exceedingly good. The little book is a marvellous shillingsworth of gracious minstrelsy.
https://www.havergaltrust.com/testimonials/1314/
She could never have written as she has except for an extraordinary intimacy with God
“There is a centre to every storm where perfect calm reigns. There is a point within the circle of the most consuming flame where life is possible without any danger to its being consumed. Miss Havergal seems to me to have got into the very centre of the storms that are disturbing others, and abides in perfect peace. She seems to have penetrated to the very heart of God who is a consuming fire, and rests absolutely in His love. She could never have written as she has except for an extraordinary intimacy with God.”
Charles Spurgeon, as quoted in Reminiscences of C. H. Spurgeon (London: Religious Tract Society, 1895, pages 80-81), by William Williams
2019-07-29T00:43:12+00:00
Charles Spurgeon, as quoted in Reminiscences of C. H. Spurgeon (London: Religious Tract Society, 1895, pages 80-81), by William Williams
“There is a centre to every storm where perfect calm reigns. There is a point within the circle of the most consuming flame where life is possible without any danger to its being consumed. Miss Havergal seems to me to have got into the very centre of the storms that are disturbing others, and abides in perfect peace. She seems to have penetrated to the very heart of God who is a consuming fire, and rests absolutely in His love. She could never have written as she has except for an extraordinary intimacy with God.”
…Reminded of the way of peace
Genuine poetry. Many a bowed-down heart can in its pages be reminded of the way of peace, and of Him who can alone give that peace which the world cannot give, and in a way which is not the world’s way.”
—Press and St. James’s Chronicle, a publication in Frances' day, reviewing The Ministry of Song
2019-07-29T00:35:54+00:00
—Press and St. James’s Chronicle, a publication in Frances' day, reviewing The Ministry of Song
Genuine poetry. Many a bowed-down heart can in its pages be reminded of the way of peace, and of Him who can alone give that peace which the world cannot give, and in a way which is not the world’s way.”
https://www.havergaltrust.com/testimonials/reminded-of-the-way-of-peace/
One of the most gifted poets ever to write for the Christian church
Frances Ridley Havergal was one of the most gifted poets ever to write for the Christian church. To this day some of her hymns are sung and loved all over the world yet much of her no-less valuable writing and poetry has long been scarce and little known. I am thankful that the Havergal Trust has been founded to remedy this lack and the Havergal books that they have already so attractively brought back into circulation deserve to be widely known. They show unusual natural gifts wedded to a strong evangelical theology, and like all the foremost Christian writers she speaks to the heart as well as to the mind.”
— Rev. Iain H. Murray, founder of the Banner of Truth Trust, in a letter on October 31, 2003
2019-07-29T00:31:32+00:00
— Rev. Iain H. Murray, founder of the Banner of Truth Trust, in a letter on October 31, 2003
"...unusual natural gifts wedded to a strong evangelical theology, and like all the foremost Christian writers she speaks to the heart as well as to the mind."— Rev. Iain H. Murray
Grace, tenderness, purity, and devotional spirit
"Critical nicety and power of phrase, variety of treatment, wealth and naturalness, lucid exposition. The grace, tenderness, purity, and devotional spirit of Miss Havergal’s volume will make it warmly welcomed wherever Christian song and Christian sentiment are loved and appreciated.”
—Morning Advertiser (a publication in Frances' day)
2019-07-29T00:36:41+00:00
—Morning Advertiser (a publication in Frances' day)
"Critical nicety and power of phrase, variety of treatment, wealth and naturalness, lucid exposition. The grace, tenderness, purity, and devotional spirit of Miss Havergal’s volume will make it warmly welcomed wherever Christian song and Christian sentiment are loved and appreciated.”
https://www.havergaltrust.com/testimonials/grace-tenderness-purity-and-devotional-spirit/
Pure and elevating thoughts
“Pure and elevating thoughts, pleasant fancy, and musical verse; remarkable for originality of thought as well as for graceful treatment.”
—Literary World (a publication in Frances' day)
2019-07-29T00:37:28+00:00
—Literary World (a publication in Frances' day)
“Pure and elevating thoughts, pleasant fancy, and musical verse; remarkable for originality of thought as well as for graceful treatment.”