The Solid Rock

Heather Allington

Heather writes for Sunday Song Book on behalf of the The Salvation Army Oshawa. As a lifelong member of the Army, she has loved these familiar - and some less familiar - songs for many years, and enjoys researching and writing about their origins. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and retired elementary school teacher who likes trying her hand at watercolour painting and poetry writing.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to veil His face
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant and blood
Support me in the ‘whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay.

Edward Mote was born into a poor family in London, England, in 1797. His parents were innkeepers. They did not allow a Bible in their home, yet Edward came to know Christ as a teenager, through some other influence. He became a skilled carpenter and owned his own cabinet shop. Was he following Jesus’ example in his choice of career? On his way to work one morning, Edward decided to write a hymn about what he called “The Gracious Experience of Being a Christian”. He soon had the chorus of the above hymn in his mind, and by the end of the day had four verses composed as well. He was apparently a very literate and musical gentleman!

The following Sunday, Edward met a Christian friend who asked him to visit his very sick wife. Edward wanted to sing a hymn for her, but couldn’t find his hymnbook, although he usually had it with him on his way to church. Instead, he told the King couple that he had some verses in his pocket, and could sing those if they wished. (It is not known whether he had composed an original tune, or whether he used the now commonly-sung one by William Bradbury.) The Kings agreed, and liked the song so much that they asked for a copy. Edward was so pleased at their response that he had one thousand copies printed for distribution!

In 1852, Edward became a pastor of the Baptist Church in Horsham, Sussex. He served there for 21 years, resigning in 1873 due to ill health. He said, “I think I am going to Heaven; yes, I am nearing port. The truths I have been preaching, I am now living upon, and they’ll do very well to die upon.” Edward died the following year at the age of 77.