Sarah Flower Adams



Sarah Fuller Flower Adams (22 February 1805 – 14 August 1848) was an English poet.

Life
Sarah Fuller Flower was born at High Street, Old Harlow, Essex, younger daughter of Benjamin Flower, editor and the sister of composer Eliza Flower.

In 1834 Sarah married William Bridges Adams, polemicist and railway engineer. They lived at Loughton, Essex, (where there is a blue plaque to the couple). Her longest work is Vivia Perpetua, A Dramatic Poem (1841), having as its subject the life of the early Christians.

Mrs. Adams was a Unitarian and authored several hymns in her lifetime, among which are "Nearer, my God, to Thee" and "He sendeth sun, He sendeth shower." Sarah Flower Adams died from tuberculosis at the age of 43 and was buried at Harlow on 21 August 1848.

Writing
It should be noted that "Nearer, my God, to Thee" (see lyrics below) is of particular historical significance as it is reputed to be the final piece played by eight musicians on The RMS Titanic as it sank on April 14, 1912.

"Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me, still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down, darkness be over me, my rest a stone; yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

There let the way appear, steps unto heaven; all that thou sendest me, in mercy given; angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise, out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise; so by my woes to be nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky, sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly, still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!"'