Ever since the English King George IV in the 18th century fell in love with Brighton, a seaside town situated on the south coast of England, the city has been a magnet for visitors. Its majestic Regency squares and crescents, the iconic Royal Pavilion and the famous Brighton Palace Pier make it a favourite summer destination for holidaymakers.
But there is more to Brighton than the surf, sea, stones, and sand. It’s also a place of culture, arts, and music. It was here that one of the world’s all time favourite hymns was written.
Nothing moves us more powerfully than music. And of all the various forms of music, it is hymns that speak to us and move us more than any other. This particular inspirational hymn has captured the hearts of countless generations and become one of the most cherished of all melodies.
Prepare to come on a journey of self-discovery and find grace as we unravel the captivating story behind this timeless hymn and the remarkable life of its author, Charlotte Elliott.
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A REVOLUTIONARY YEAR
The year 1789 emerges as a defining chapter in the pages of history. Like a cherished bookmark, it holds its place marking a period of profound transformation and bearing witness to an extraordinary tapestry of events. From revolutionary movements, political upheavals, and cultural changes, the events of this year would change the world and the course of history forever.
During this time, in the heart of Europe, the French Revolution erupted as a resounding call for justice and the people’s rights. Fuelled by the mounting resentment towards the monarchy and unjust government, the rebellion began.
On the 14th of July 1789, the Bastille, a state prison in Paris and symbol of royal oppression, was stormed. When the prison was attacked it held only seven prisoners. But the mob had not gathered for them, it had come to demand the huge ammunition store held within the prison walls.
When the prison governor refused to give them access, the mob charged. After a violent battle, the mob eventually took control of the building. The storming of the Bastille symbolically marked the beginning of the French revolution, and the ‘Reign of Terror’ that followed.
It saw the downfall of the French Monarchy, the execution of nobility including [King] Louis 16th and Queen Marie-Antoinette as well as thousands of others including clergy and political opponents. This ultimately led to the birth of a new government – a republic run by the people, and built on the ideas of Liberty, Equality and Brotherhood.
THE WESLEY BROTHERS
Fifty years earlier, a significant event took place in England that historians believed saved the British Isles from the same fate as France. It is believed that the same bloodshed that occurred in France against the monarchy, the church and nobility would very likely have occurred in England had it not been for the Evangelical Awakening which came about through the lives and ministries of the Wesley brothers, John and Charles.
For years, John Wesley and his brother had tried to make themselves acceptable to God through their good works. They had visited prisons, diligently studied scripture in its original languages of Greek and Hebrew, and strictly followed religious rules and traditions. But still, they didn’t feel that they had received the blessing of the Holy Spirit.
In 1735 at the age of 32, John Wesley set sail from England across the Atlantic to work as an Anglican minister in Savannah, Georgia. During the voyage, there was a sudden great storm at sea and Wesley was gripped with fear. But, to his utter amazement, the German Moravian Christians on board weren’t afraid at all. They calmly sang hymns of praise together. Wesley could hardly comprehend such dedication and earnest faith.
After some time in Georgia, Wesley returned to England in 1738. He was still feeling depressed and doubting his beliefs. He still didn’t have the spiritual peace he yearned for.
However, on the 24th of May 1738, something incredible happened. Wesley attended a church meeting in Aldersgate Street in London that would change his life. He heard a sermon on salvation based on the book of Romans. He discovered that God loved him and accepted him just as he was.
And that there was nothing he could do to make God love him more, and there was nothing he could do to make God love him less. God loved him unconditionally. And that unconditional love had the power to change his life and make him more Christlike.
Finally, John Wesley had found the lasting peace in his heart that he’d been so desperately seeking. Finally he knew what real faith was all about. He realised that he could simply come to God and accept the gift of salvation without relying on his own strict code of works.
From this point onwards, John Wesley would go on to become one of the most powerful preachers of his time, spreading the Gospel far and wide on horseback and preaching in the open air wherever people would gather.
As a result, eighteenth-century England witnessed a remarkable spiritual awakening that historians believed saved the British Isles from a violent revolution like that which France experienced.
BIRTH OF CHARLOTTE
The year 1789 was not only marked by the French Revolution, but also by the birth of one of the greatest hymn writers to ever live. Her name was Charlotte Elliott. She was born on the 18th of March, 1789 in Clapham, a charming, bustling suburb in southwest London to Eling and Charles Elliott. Charlotte was one of six children, and their third daughter.
In the 18th century women faced many social challenges. Most women did not have the same rights and opportunities as men. They were not allowed to vote, own land while they were married, enter many professions, earn equal wages, or go to university. They were expected to stay at home and take care of the family.
Fortunately for Charlotte she was born into an educated and enlightened family that was well known and influential in religious circles. As such, Charlotte was well educated and from an early age developed a great passion for music and art. She was talented at portrait painting and the writing of humorous verse and poetry, that was very often witty and funny.
Charlotte’s grandfather, the Reverend Henry Venn was also a prominent figure in the religious community at the time and an important mentor in Charlotte’s life. He provided her with wisdom, guidance, and a solid foundation of Christian values. Her grandfather’s loving support and encouragement played a significant role in shaping Charlotte’s understanding of God’s love and grace.
HEALTH CRISIS
Unfortunately, in 1821, at the age of just 32, Charlotte’s health began to deteriorate, leaving her bedridden. The specific details of Charlotte’s illness are not well documented. However, historical records suggest that she experienced a prolonged period of ill health that left her weakened and in great distress.
This illness became a defining chapter in her life, impacting her both physically and emotionally. Often bedridden and grappling with constant pain, Charlotte faced a profound struggle, wrestling with doubts, fears and the uncertainty of her future. The prolonged confinement left her feeling isolated, and questioning her purpose and place in the world.
It was during this time that Charlotte also experienced doubts and uncertainties regarding her own salvation. She struggled with a deep sense of unworthiness, questioning whether she was truly accepted by God and if her sins could really be forgiven.
It was in the height of her struggles for spiritual identity and acceptance, that a man by the name of Dr. Caesar Malan visited Charlotte. He was a Swiss minister and evangelist known for his passionate preaching and unwavering faith. He possessed a strong belief in the transformative power of God’s love and grace and emphasized the importance of the acceptance of Jesus Christ as the path to salvation.
During their discussion, Dr. Malan broached the subject of personal salvation with Charlotte and asked if she had ever come to the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted him as her personal saviour. Charlotte resented the question and responded rudely.
However, she continued to ponder his question and later asked Dr. Malan: “You spoke of coming to Jesus, but how? I am not fit to come.” Malan gently replied, “You must come just as you are, a sinner, to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.”
Reverend Malan’s words helped Charlotte to confront her doubts and find solace in the grace of God. Charlotte now felt reassured that she did not need to prove herself or meet any requirements in order to be accepted by God. That she could just simply come as she was.
Sometime after this visit in 1834, when Charlotte was 45 years old, and living with her brother in Brighton, a church bazaar was organised to raise money. Some say the cause was the local hospital and others say it was to send the daughters of poor clergymen to school. Charlotte was eager to help organise the event. But she was so bitterly disappointed that on the day of the bazaar she was just too sick to attend.
A HYMN TAKES SHAPE
Charlotte was left alone at home, discouraged and disheartened. Then, Dr Malan’s words came to her mind, she realized a sudden sense of peace and contentment. Taking up her pen she began to write a poem. The following words took shape on her paper:
“Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee
Oh, Lamb of God, I come, I come.”
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt
Fighting and fears within without
Oh, Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve
Because Thy promise I believe
Oh, Lamb of God, I come, I come.
During the day, her brother’s wife came to see how she was feeling, and to bring her news of the bazaar. Charlotte showed her the poem she had written. Mrs Elliott took a copy back with her to sell at the bazaar. The sale of copies of the poem raised more funds than the entire bazaar did.
Then in 1849 the American composer and musician, William B. Bradbury, known for composing the tunes to the hymns, Jesus Loves Me, Sweet Hour of Prayer, My Hope is Built on Nothing Less and Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us, visited England.
CHARLOTTE’S LEGACY
He composed the music for Charlotte’s poem, and it soon spread across the world. It has since been translated into many languages.
Charlotte Elliott is buried here in the St Andrew’s old parish churchyard in Hove, near Brighton. She was buried in the Elliot family tomb along with her parents, brother and other family members.
After her death in 1871, over 1000 letters were found in one of her boxes. She’d kept those letters because they had encouraged her so much. They were from people all over the world, thanking her for the words of a hymn that had impressed them so much.
Her minister brother wrote at this time:
“In the course of a long ministry, I hope to have been permitted to see some fruit of my labours; but I feel more has been done by a single hymn of my sister’s.”
C S LEWIS CHALLENGED
Among those impacted by Charlotte’s hymn was the renowned British author and theologian C.S Lewis. Born in Belfast, Ireland on November 29, 1898, Lewis too would face his own challenges.
At the age of nine, Lewis’ mother tragically passed away after a battle with cancer. This loss profoundly impacted the young Lewis, and he struggled with the grief and loss for many years.
After his mother’s death, Lewis and his brother were sent to boarding school in England. The separation from their father and their home in Ireland was difficult for both boys. Lewis often felt lonely and isolated during this period of his life. He found solace in books and developed a deep love for reading and storytelling.
Lewis went on to study English literature at Oxford University and later became a Tutor in English Literature at Magdalen College, Oxford. As a writer and highly educated person, Lewis grappled with profound questions of faith and sought to reconcile his rational intellectual mind with his spiritual beliefs.
In his struggles and questioning C.S Lewis encountered Charlotte Elliott’s hymn. In Lewis’ autobiography, Surprised by Joy he mentions that the hymn “Just as I am” had a deep and significant impact on his spiritual journey. He describes that on hearing the hymn during a church service, he was deeply moved by its words, particularly the line “Just as I am, without one plea.”
The hymn’s message of God’s unconditional love and acceptance resonated deeply with Lewis. It spoke to his own struggles with doubt, his wrestling with questions of faith and his longing for a genuine and life-changing encounter with God.
The hymn served as a reminder to Lewis that he could come before God as he truly was, with all his doubts, questions and shortcomings and find acceptance and grace.
The impact of “Just as I Am” on C.S Lewis can be seen in his writings and reflections. It influenced his understanding of God’s love, forgiveness, and the idea that faith is not about presenting yourself as perfect but about surrendering to God and trusting Him and His perfect love and sacrifice for you.
BILLY GRAHAM’S INFLUENCED
Charlotte’s hymn also impacted the popular American Christian evangelist and preacher Billy Graham. He was one of the most influential religious figures of the 20th century, known for his captivating style of preaching and his efforts to spread the message of Christianity worldwide.
Billy Graham was born on November 7, 1918, in Charlotte, North Carolina. From an early age [he] showed a keen interest in religion and spirituality. His parents, who were devout Christians, instilled in him the values of love, compassion and service to others.
As a young boy, Billy Graham attended the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church with his family, where he experienced his first religious revival at the age of 16. In the spring of 1934, Mordecai Ham, a well-known evangelist, held a series of revival meetings in Charlotte and young [Billy] was curious and decided to attend one of the meetings.
On the evening he attended, the sermon was about sin, redemption and the need for personal salvation. Billy Graham felt a deep conviction and recognized his own need for forgiveness and a relationship with God. [He] responded to the invitation to come forward and publicly declare his commitment to Jesus Christ.
It was a transformative moment for him as he experienced a profound sense of repentance, forgiveness and the assurance of God’s love and grace. This revival experience marked the beginning of Billy Graham’s personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and laid the foundation for his lifelong devotion to sharing the Gospel – the Good News – with others.
Billy Graham went on to study at the Florida Bible Institute, honing his skills as a preacher and actively sharing his faith. He soon started preaching at local churches and started a radio program called ‘Songs in The Night,’ which allowed him to reach an even wider audience with his message.
One of Billy Graham’s most significant preaching experiences occurred in 1949, during an eight-week crusade in Los Angeles. The meetings were held under a large tent dubbed the “Canvas Cathedral”. They started with a modest attendance, however, as the word spread about Billy Graham’s powerful preaching and the impact of his message, the crowds grew rapidly.
Graham delivered passionate sermons that emphasized how Jesus Christ can change your life and bring you peace and happiness. As Billy Graham preached about the assurance of salvation, a powerful spiritual awakening swept through the audience.
During that sermon, Billy Graham made an altar call – that is, he invited those who wanted to make a commitment to Jesus to come forward and publicly declare their faith. To his amazement, hundreds of people stepped forward to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour. This event marked the beginning of his powerful ministry, and he went on to hold many more revival meetings across the country and around the world.
Billy Graham chose to use Charlotte’s moving hymn, Just As I Am, during his altar calls. It became his signature tune, like a national anthem, and an integral part of his evangelistic crusades. This hymn’s message resonated with Billy Graham because he believed in the power of God’s grace to touch people’s hearts and transform lives and bring salvation to all who would receive it.
And so, whenever Billy Graham made the altar call, the hymn ‘Just as I am’ would be played and sung. The hymn provided an emotional and reflective mood for the people who responded to the call to decide to accept Jesus Christ. The hymn’s lyrics also served as a reminder that anyone could approach God seeking his forgiveness and guidance, and that they could come just as they are.
A CHERISHED REMINDER
Even today the hymn ‘Just as I am’ continues to be sung and cherished by Christians around the world, reminding them of the invitation to approach God with humility and surrender, just as they are.
By 1925, the hymn had been published in over 20 different hymnbooks. It became very popular because the hymn is a powerful reminder that God’s love is boundless and unwavering. God’s love embraces us with open arms, no matter what our faults or shortcomings are, we are invited to come to Him just as we are.
God knows our struggles, our fears, and our brokenness. He sees the weariness in our souls and the burdens we carry. In His infinite love, he extends a compassionate invitation. He beckons us to lay it all down before Him. He comforts us in Matthew 11:28 where he says:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
When Jesus spoke these words, He extended an invitation, a compassionate invitation to us all. He offered rest for our weary souls, a place of solace and peace. He calls us to come to Him as we are without having to clean ourselves up or earn his favour. It is through his shed blood on the cross that we find forgiveness, redemption, and the assurance of love.
Jesus invites us in 1 John 1:9 (NIV):
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
God’s love and mercy extends to all of us. God’s unconditional love knows no bounds. It reaches into the very depths of our souls, offering forgiveness, healing, and transformation. He longs to take our brokenness and make us whole. We don’t have to strive for His acceptance or approval; it is freely given to us as we approach Him with an open heart.
Remember, God sees the beauty within us, even amidst our flaws and failures. He yearns for a relationship with us, He offers to guide and walk with us through every season of life. He wants to embrace you and give you the strength to overcome all the troubles, disappointments and heartaches you face. So, the invitation is open to everyone, to come just as you are.
So, no matter where you are in your journey in life, God stands ready to receive you with open arms. We can surrender our burdens, our fears, and our doubts at His feet, and experience the rest and restoration that only He can provide.
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If you’ve enjoyed our journey to Brighton, the hometown of Charlotte Elliott and our reflections on the famous hymn, Just as I am, then be sure to join us again next week, when we will share another of life’s journeys together. Until then, let’s pray to our loving and gracious God.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your unwavering and unconditional love for us. We come to you just as we are, completely dependent on your grace and mercy and commit our lives fully to you. Please bless and care for us and our families. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
