SWEET SINGER

Over the last 10 years I’ve been working with a colleague in America who wants to publish the complete works of

Frances Ridley Havergal

(1836-1879). Frances was born and spent most of her life in Worcestershire and was also very well-travelled. She visited Switzerland several times and, despite the always correct Victorian clothing of the day, climbed many of the mountains there! She was a prolific poet, author, hymnwriter, soloist and musician and in her relatively short life she wrote so much that it will fill five or six volumes!

Her musical skill was admired by Ferdinand Hillier, a contemporary composer and friend of Felix Mendelssohn.

All her writings and musical compositions have been located except one. She wrote what she called a penny booklet for New Year 1875. Entitled The Five Benefits and based on the opening verses of Psalm 103, it was so popular she claimed it had to be reprinted four times in four weeks! The booklet was published and printed by C. Caswell and Company of Broad Street, Birmingham, but 10 years of searching have yet to lead me to a copy.

If any of your readers possesses a copy and would be willing to either donate or loan it to me with permission to copy the contents I would be so very grateful.

David J. Marlow, Ashington, Northumberland

Would you have a copy of Frances’s 1875 penny booklet and would be happy to loan to David? If so, please let us know at the usual address.