"Abide with me" Brixham

Image: © Tom Jolliffe Taken: 22 Jul 2008

Henry Francis Lyte, the curate of All Saints church (left of the frame on the horizon) wrote "Abide with Me" a few months before his death in 1847. He was a popular man and went to sea with fishermen, preaching about the sea of Galilee. He was buried in Nice, where died on his travels. According to the "Brixham News" on the web Link http://www.brixhamnews.com/allsaints.shtml "The Revd Henry Francis Lyte: H.F.Lyte (1793 – 1847) is Brixham's most famous clergyman. As the first vicar of All Saints Church in the centre of ‘Fishtown' he was a pioneering pastor to the local fishermen and their families, and was much loved and respected. He was also a poet and hymn-writer, and is remembered world-wide for his hymns “Abide with me” and “Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven”. At All Saints Church, known as the Lyte Memorial Church, the church bells ring out three of his hymns daily, including “Abide with me” at 8pm. Although the church has changed since his time, Lyte's pulpit can still be seen, and various items associated with him, together with a permanent display telling his story. Also of interest is Lyte's home overlooking Torbay, now open to all as the Berry Head Hotel. " A further reference can be found at http://ocotilloroad.com/geneal/lyte1.html where his earlier association with Brixham's other main church, St Mary's can be found.

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