Lord, It Is Eventide

Henry Ernest Nichol (who also used the pen name Colin Sterne for his hymns) wrote both words and music of the hymn given below. Nichol was born December 10, 1862 in Hull, Yorkshire, England. He studied music at Oxford, where he received a degree in 1888. For several years he was organist at St. Andrew’s Church, Kirk Ella. Nichol died August 30, 1926 in Aldbrough, Yorkshire, England. He was married with four children (2 sons and 2 daughters) at the time of his death. Nichol is buried in the General Cemetery at Hull, Yorkshire, England.

To most Christians, his most recognizable song likely is We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations. Lord, It Is Eventide possibly first appears in 1925 in Golden Bells: Hymn for Young People (London: Children’s Special Service Mission). The tune is usually called Christ’s Own Peace. This hymn and tune combination is made up of four stanzas with a refrain. Each stanza begins with four lines (13.12.13.12), followied by a fifth line – “O grant unto our souls” – leading into the refrain. The four lines of the refrain are shorter (9.10.10.10.) The tune switches time from 4/4 in the stanzas to 6/4 in the refrain. Lord, It Is Eventide may well be considered an evening prayer.

1. Lord, it is eventide: the light of day is waning;
Far o’er the golden land earth’s voices faint and fall;
Lowly we pray to you for strength and love sustaining,
Lowly we ask of you your peace upon us all.
O grant unto our souls –

Refrain:
Light that grows not pale with day’s decrease,
Love that never can fail till life shall cease;
Joy no trial can mar, Hope that shines afar,
Faith serene as a star, and Christ’s own peace.

2. Lord, it is eventide: we turn to you for healing,
Like those of Galilee who came at close of day;
Speak to our waiting souls, their hidden needs revealing;
Touch us with hands divine that take our sin away.
O grant unto our souls –

Refrain.

3. Saviour, you know of every trial and temptation,
Know of the wilfulness and waywardness of youth,
Help us to hold to you, our strength and our salvation,
Help us to find in you the one eternal Truth.
O grant unto our souls –

Refrain.

4. Lord, it is eventide: our hearts await your giving,
Wait for that peace divine that none can take away,
Peace that shall lift our souls to loftier heights of living,
Till we abide with you in everlasting day.
O grant unto our souls –

Refrain.