Elizabeth Payson Prentiss Grave

Hymn History: More Love to Thee & Author: Elizabeth Payson Prentiss

“There is no wilderness so dreary but that His love can illuminate it, no desolation so desolate but that He can sweeten it. I know what I am saying. It is no delusion. I believe the highest, purest happiness is known only to those who have learned Christ in sickrooms, in poverty, in racking suspense and anxiety, amid hardships, and at the open grave.”
(Elizabeth Payson Prentiss)

The Origin of the Hymn “More Love to Thee, O Christ”

Hymns are often born out of deep personal experience, and some of the most enduring ones spring from seasons of sorrow and spiritual longing. Such is the case with “More Love to Thee, O Christ,” a hymn that has touched countless believers with its simple prayer for a closer walk with Christ. Written by Elizabeth Payson Prentiss in the nineteenth century, it continues to resonate because it expresses a universal desire: to love the Savior more fully in every circumstance of life.

Elizabeth Prentiss: The Author

Elizabeth Payson Prentiss (1818–1878) was born in Portland, Maine, the daughter of Edward Payson, a respected Congregational minister known for his piety and spiritual influence. Elizabeth grew up in a devout Christian home and from an early age displayed literary talent. By her teenage years, she was writing poems and short stories for publication.

In 1845, she married George Lewis Prentiss, who later became a Presbyterian pastor in New York City and eventually a professor at Union Theological Seminary. Together they served in ministry while raising a family. Though outwardly successful, Elizabeth’s life was marked by deep trials. She suffered fragile health for much of her life and endured the loss of two young children within a short span of time.

These sorrows shaped her spiritual life profoundly. Rather than turning her heart bitter, they drove her closer to Christ, teaching her the value of patient faith and steadfast love for the Savior. Her writings—including books, devotional works, and hymns—often reflect this journey of suffering transformed into trust.

Writing the Hymn

The hymn “More Love to Thee, O Christ” was written around 1856, during a period of discouragement and illness. Elizabeth longed for a deeper experience of Christ’s presence in her life, especially amid her trials. Out of this longing came the heartfelt prayer that she set down in verse:

More love to Thee, O Christ,
More love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make
On bended knee.

The hymn’s stanzas build on this central plea, asking that joy or sorrow alike might draw the believer nearer to Christ, and concluding with the vision of eternal praise in heaven.

Interestingly, Elizabeth did not immediately publish the hymn. She kept it private for several years, sharing it only with close friends. It was not until 1869, when her husband encouraged its publication, that the hymn began to be sung publicly.

The Music

The tune most often associated with “More Love to Thee” was composed by William Howard Doane (1832–1915), one of the most prolific American gospel composers of the nineteenth century. Doane, who also collaborated with Fanny Crosby, gave Prentiss’s text a gentle, lyrical melody that carries its prayerful spirit beautifully.

The pairing of Prentiss’s simple, earnest words with Doane’s tender tune helped the hymn gain wide acceptance in American churches. Its refrain-like opening line, repeated at the close of each stanza, reinforced its central theme and made it memorable for congregational singing.

Reception and Influence

After its publication, the hymn quickly found its way into American hymnals and devotional collections. Its message of devotion and consecration struck a chord in a time when revival movements emphasized personal piety and love for Christ.

The hymn also gained international attention when it was translated into other languages. Perhaps most famously, it became associated with the missionary martyrdom of Chinese Christian leader Watchman Nee in the twentieth century. Tradition holds that during his imprisonment, Nee found comfort in the hymn’s words, using them as a prayer for steadfastness under persecution.

In America, the hymn was cherished not only by ordinary believers but also by prominent Christian leaders. It was said to be a favorite of evangelist Dwight L. Moody and others who led the great revival movements of the nineteenth century.

Theological Emphasis

At its heart, the hymn is a prayer of consecration. It does not dwell on doctrine or narrative but instead focuses entirely on the believer’s personal devotion to Christ. Each stanza expresses a willingness to let every circumstance—whether joy or pain—become an opportunity to grow in love for the Savior.

This theme reflects both Elizabeth Prentiss’s personal experience and the broader emphasis of evangelical spirituality in her era: that Christian life is not merely about external duties but about cultivating a deep, abiding love for Christ.

Legacy

Elizabeth Prentiss continued to write throughout her life, producing devotional books such as Stepping Heavenward (1869), which also emphasized spiritual growth through daily struggles. Yet it is “More Love to Thee” that became her lasting contribution to Christian hymnody.

The hymn has endured because it gives voice to a timeless desire. Across generations and cultures, Christians have found themselves echoing its prayer, whether in moments of joy, sorrow, or quiet devotion.

Conclusion

The origin of “More Love to Thee, O Christ” lies in the heart of a woman who knew suffering yet sought to turn her pain into praise. Elizabeth Prentiss, shaped by personal loss and physical frailty, penned a hymn that continues to call believers to deeper love for their Savior. With William Doane’s melody carrying its words, the hymn became a devotional treasure in the life of the church.

Even today, it remains a gentle yet powerful reminder that the essence of Christian faith is love for Christ—a love that grows stronger through every trial, until it finds its fullest expression in eternal praise.