History of the hymns...

'Abide With Me' (1847) Henry F. Lyte/William H. Monk

Lyte was inspired to write this hymn as he was dying of tuberculosis; he finished it the Sunday he gave his farewell sermon in the parish he served so many years.

In his farewell sermon he said: "O bretheren, I stand here among you today, as alive from the dead, if I may hope to impress it upon you, and induce you to prepare for that solemn hour which must come to all, by a timely acquaintance with the dead of Christ."

The next day, he left for Italy to regain his health. He didn't make it, though ... he died in Nice, France, three weeks after writing those words.

~Cyberhymnal