Joseph Scriven Memorial

Hymn History: What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Author: Joseph Scriven

“He was a man of strong faith and deep humility, giving away what he had and working without pay for those in need.”
(James Cleland)

The Origin of the Hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

Few hymns have offered more quiet comfort to ordinary Christians than “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Simple in language yet profound in spiritual insight, it has been sung in cottages, chapels, great cathedrals, and mission halls for more than a century and a half. Its enduring appeal lies in its plainspoken reminder that prayer is the believer’s constant privilege and that Christ is not distant, but near.

The text was written by Joseph M. Scriven, a man whose own life was marked by sorrow and upheaval. Born in 1819 in Ireland, Scriven was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and seemed set for a respectable career. Yet tragedy struck early. On the eve of his wedding, his fiancée drowned in an accident. The loss profoundly affected him. In time, he emigrated to Canada, seeking a fresh beginning, but hardship followed him there as well.

Scriven settled in what is now Ontario and lived a life of quiet Christian service. Though educated and capable, he chose not to pursue worldly advancement. Instead, he devoted himself to helping the poor and the sick, often giving away his own possessions to those in need. His faith was not theoretical; it was practical, rooted in daily acts of charity and steady trust in God.

It was in this setting that “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” was born. Around 1855, Scriven wrote the poem as a private message of encouragement to his mother, who was living back in Ireland and facing illness and difficulty. He did not originally intend it for publication. The poem was simply a heartfelt reminder to someone he loved: whatever burdens arise, take them to the Lord in prayer.

The opening stanza sets the tone:

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!

The language is direct and unadorned. There are no elaborate metaphors or theological complexities. Instead, the hymn speaks of friendship, burden-bearing, and prayer. Its strength lies in that very simplicity. Scriven had learned through experience that sorrow cannot be reasoned away, but it can be brought before God.

In later years, the text was discovered and eventually published, reportedly without Scriven’s initial knowledge. When asked whether he had written it, he is said to have replied modestly, “The Lord and I did it between us.” That quiet humility fits the spirit of the hymn itself.

Musically, the hymn is most commonly paired with the tune composed by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868. Converse, a lawyer and musician from the United States, provided a melody that matches the text’s warmth and accessibility. The tune’s gentle rise and fall supports congregational singing and reinforces the comforting tone of the words. Together, text and melody formed a hymn that spread quickly across denominations and national boundaries.

The hymn gained particular traction during the great missionary movements of the nineteenth century. Its emphasis on personal prayer and direct access to Christ resonated strongly in revival meetings and evangelistic efforts. It required no elaborate liturgy and no advanced theological training to understand. Anyone burdened by care could grasp its message at once.

In the United States and beyond, it became a staple in revivalist hymnals, Sunday school collections, and later in gospel songbooks. Its appeal crossed denominational lines—sung by Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, and Anglicans alike. Over time, it was translated into numerous languages and carried around the world by missionaries and emigrants.

The second and third stanzas deepen the theme. Scriven acknowledges human weakness, trials, and temptation. Yet each difficulty is met with the same steady refrain: “Take it to the Lord in prayer.” The repetition is deliberate. Life brings recurring troubles, and the answer is likewise continual prayer. There is no promise that believers will be spared sorrow; rather, they are assured they need not face it alone.

It is worth noting that Scriven’s own life did not become easier after writing the hymn. He faced further disappointment, including another broken engagement and declining health. He died in 1886 under somewhat tragic circumstances. Yet the hymn he left behind continues to testify to a faith that endured hardship without bitterness.

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” reflects a deeply personal Christianity, one that values direct communion with Christ. In an age that often prizes complexity, the hymn stands as a reminder of an older and steadier path: trust, prayer, and quiet perseverance. Its language may be plain, but its message is enduring.

More than a century after it was first penned as a private letter of comfort, the hymn still invites believers to lay aside anxiety and turn heavenward. In that invitation lies its lasting power.

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Image Source/Credit (in order):

• Albert Bridge / Joseph Scriven memorial, Banbridge

• Joseph Medlicott Scriven (1819-1886) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree. 10 Sept. 1819, www.wikitree.com/wiki/Scriven-1120.