Who is on the Lord’s Side by Frances Ridley Havergal
A great hymn from the Sankey and Moody Crusades of the 1870s and 1880s, is “Who is on the Lord’s side” and it was written specially in 1877 by Frances Ridley Havergal, not long before she died. She had suffered ill health for much of her life and died at the age of 42. Frances was a member of the Church Mission(ery) Society and believed firmly that we should stand firm in our Christian belief and love without question our Lord Jesus, and, live the Christian life whatever the personal cost.
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side – Saviour will are Thine!
Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe
But the King’s own army none can overthrow;
‘Round His standard raging, vict’ry is secure,
For His truth unchanging makes the triumph sure.
Joyfully enlisting, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side – Saviour we are Thine!
Chosen to be soldiers, in an alien land,
Chosen, called and faithful, for our Captain’s band;
In the service royal, let us not grow cold,
Let us be right loyal, noble, true and bold.
Master, wilt Thou keep us, by Thy grace divine,
Always on the Lord’s side – Saviour, always Thine!
These are three of the five verses of this hymn. The tune “Armageddon”
Is an incredibly stirring piece of music written in 1871 by C Luise Reichardt. Our organist in Welland Church turned it into a most amazing organ symphony for one of the weddings that Frances officiated for.
Frances Ridley Havergal lived for many years in Astley, Worcestershire where her father was rector. She lies buried in the churchyard there. She wrote many other hymns and was a noted teacher in Sunday Schools, as well as a noted Evangelical Christian. She also wrote “Take my life and let it be”
Roger Wookey