from Julian, A Dictionary of Hymnology, 1892, 1907:

Waring, Anna Laetitia, daughter of Elijah Waring, and niece of Samuel Miller Waring, was born at Neith, Glamorganshire, in 1820. In 1850 she published her Hymns and Meditations, by A. L. W., a small book of 19 hymns. The 4th edition was published in 1854. The 10th edition, 1863, is enlarged to 38 hymns. She also published Additional Hymns, 1858, and contributed some pieces to the Sunday Magazine, 1871. Her most widely known hymns are: "Father, I know that all my life," "Go not far from me, O my Strength," and "My heart is resting, O my God." The rest in current use include:--

  1. Dear Savior of a dying world. Resurrection.
  2. In heavenly love abiding Safety in God (1850.)
  3. Jesus, Lord of heaven above. Love to Jesus desired. (1854.)
  4. Lord, a happy child of Thine. Evening. (1850.)
  5. My Savior, on the [Thy] words of truth. Hope in the Word of God. (1850). Sometimes stanza 4, "It is not as Thou wilt with me," is given separately.
  6. O this is blessing, this is rest. Rest in the Love of Jesus. (854.)
  7. O Thou Lord of heaven above. The Resurrection.
  8. Source of my life's refreshing springs. Rest in God. (1850.)
  9. Sunlight of the heavenly day. New Year. (1854.)
  10. Sweet is the solace of Thy love. Safety and Comfort in God. (1850.)
  11. Tender mercies on my way. Praise of Divine Mercies. (1850.)
  12. Thanksgiving and the voice of melody. New Year (1854.)
  13. Though some good things of lower worth. Love of God in Christ. (1850.)

These hymns are marked by great simplicity, concentration of thought, and elegance of diction. They are popular, and deserve to be so.

[G. A. C.]

Of her hymns we have found the following in Lovell Squire's Sel. of Scriptural Poetry, 3rd. ed., 1848:

  1. Father, I know that all my life,
  2. Sweet is the solace of Thy love,
  3. Though some good things of, &c.,

The statement in J. Telford's The Methodist Hymn Book Illustrated, 1906, p. 271, that Miss Waring contributed to her uncles's Sacred Melodies, 1826, cannot be correct, as she was then only six years old.

[J. M.]

Father, I know that all my life.

Anna L. Waring. [Resignation.] 1st. pub. in her Hymns and Meditations, 1850, No. 1, in 8 st. of 6 l., and headed, "My times are in Thy hand." (Enlarged ed. 1863-1871.) One of the first, if not the first hymn-book to bring it into C. U. was the Leeds H. Bk., 1853, No. 892. Since then it has passed into numerous collections in G. Britain and America. Although faulty, and awkward in rhythm, it has attained to a considerable circulation, its deep devotional spirit and intense personality being very attractive to many. Although best adapted for private reading, it is suitable, under special circumstances, for congregational use. in the American Unitarian Hy. [& Tune] Bk. for the Church and the Home, Boston, 1868, No. 224, st. 5,7,8 are given in an altered form as:--"I ask Thee for the daily strength:" st. 1-4 being given as No. 223.

[J. J.]

Go not far from me, O my [God] Strength.

Anna L. Waring. [Resignation.] Appeared in her Hymns and Meditations, 4th ed., 1854, in 14 st. of 6 l., and based upon Psalm 42:7,8 (10th ed. 1871, No. 26). Various centos, mostly beginning with st. 1, are in C. U. in G. Britain and America. The opening line in Martineau's Hymns of Praise and Prayer, 1873, is "Go not far from me, O my God." In Kennedy, 1863, No. 294, the cento begins with st. 7, "How blessed are the eyes that see."

[J. J.]

My heart is resting, O my God.

Anna L. Waring. [The Lord the Portion of his people.] Appeared in the 4th ed. of her Hymns and Meditations, 1854, p. 65., in 11 st. of 8 l., and based upon Lam. 3:24, "The Lord is my Portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him" (ed. 1871, p. 62). It is also in her Additional Hymns, 1858. Being too long to be used in full, various arrangement of lines and stanzas have been adopted for C. U. Most of these begin with the opening line of the hymn. One exception is, "I have a heritage of joy," in the American Unitarian Hy. [& Tune] Bk. for Church & Home, Boston, 1868, which begins with st. 3, l. 5.

[J. J.]

Notes from Other Sources