Lyricist: Caroline Maria Noel

From HymnsWithoutWords

Biography

Caroline Maria Noel (1817 - 1877) daughter of the Hon. Gerard T. Noel, and niece of the Hon. Baptist W. Noel. She was born in London in 1817 and died there in 1877. Her first hymn "Draw nigh unto my soul", (Indwelling) was written when she was 17. During the next three years she wrote about a dozen pieces. But her main output was written after the age opf 40. "The Name of Jesus and other Verses for the Sick and Lonely" was published in 1861. Much enlarged the 1878 edition contains 78 pieces. Caroline, in common with contemporary Charlotte Elliott, was of poor health, and many of her verses resulted from her days in pain. They are specially adapted "for the sick and lonely" and were written rather for private meditation than for public use, although several are suited for the latter purpose. Her best known hymn is the "At the Name of Jesus".