Sarah Flower Adams

Adams, Sarah, nee Flower. born at Harlow, Essex, Feb. 22nd, 1805; died in London, Aug. 14, 1848, and was buried at Harlow, Aug. 21,1848. She was the younger daughter of Mr. Benjamin Flower, editor and proprietor, of The Cambridge Intelligencer; and was married, in 1834, to William B. Adams, a civil engineer. In 1841 she published Vivia Perpetua, a dramatic poem dealing with the conflict of heathenism and Christianity, in which Vivia Perpetua suffered martyrdom; and in 1845, The Flock at the Fountain; a catechism and hymns for children. As a member of the congregation of the Rev. W. J. Fox, an Unitarian minister in London, she contributed 13 hymns to the Hymns and Anthems, published by C. Fox, Lond., in 1841, for use in his chapel. Of these hymns the most widely known are— "Nearer,my God,to Thee," and "He sendeth sun, He sendeth shower." The remaining eleven, most of which have come into common use, more especially in America, are:—

1. Creator Spirit! Thou the first. Holy Spirit.
2. Darkness shrouded Calvary. Good Friday.
3. Gently fall the dews of eve. Evening.
4. Go, and watch the Autumn leaves. Autumn.
5. O hallowed memories of the past. Memories.
6. O human heart! thou hast a song. Praise.
7. O I would sing a song of praise. Praise.
8. O Love! thou makest all things even. Love.
9. Part in Peace! is day before us? Close of Service.
10. Sing to the Lord! for His mercies are sure. Praise.
11. The mourners came at break of day. Easter.

Mrs. Adams also contributed to Novello's musical edition of Songs for the Months, n. d. Nearly all of the above hymns are found in the Unitarian collections of Great Britain, and America. In Martineau's Hymns of Praise & Prayer, 1873, No. 389, there is a rendering by her from Fenelon: —" Living or dying, Lord, I would be Thine." It appeared in the Hymns and Anthems, 1841.

-John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)