Mrs. Harry Coghill

Annie Louisa Coghill (née Walker) was an English poet and novelist who gained international fame as the author of one of the most enduring "work hymns" of the 19th century. Born in Kiddermore, Staffordshire, in 1836, she moved with her family to Canada in the 1850s, settling in Ontario. It was during this period of her life, while living in the rugged environment of the Canadian frontier, that she began publishing her poetry in local newspapers. These early works were later collected and published in her 1859 volume, Leaves from the Backwoods. After returning to England, she married Harry Coghill in 1884 and continued a vibrant literary career that included writing novels, children’s plays, and editing the memoirs of her cousin, the noted author Margaret Oliphant.

Coghill’s primary contribution to hymnody is the world-renowned "Work, for the Night is Coming." Written in 1854 when she was only eighteen years old, the text was inspired by the diligent spirit of the Canadian settlers and the biblical exhortation from the Gospel of John: "The night cometh, when no man can work." The hymn emphasizes the urgency of Christian service, using the progression of a single day—from the "morning hours" to the "sunset skies", as a metaphor for the human lifespan. Its call to "fill the brightest hours with labor" resonated deeply with the Victorian work ethic and the burgeoning Sunday School movement.

The hymn’s journey to global popularity is a notable chapter in publishing history. After appearing anonymously in a Canadian newspaper, it was picked up by American compilers and eventually included in Ira D. Sankey’s Sacred Songs and Solos. Because it was published without her name, Coghill was frequently uncredited in early hymnals, a situation she sought to rectify in her 1890 collection, Oak and Maple, where she published the authorized version of the text. Despite her broad literary output, this single poem, set to a spirited tune by Lowell Mason, ensured her voice would be heard in churches across the world.

Annie Louisa Coghill passed away in 1907. She is remembered as a writer who could capture both the quiet beauty of the "backwoods" and the vigorous duty of the Christian life. Her legacy remains a staple of the "Gospel Song" tradition, providing a rhythmic, motivating anthem for generations of believers committed to the idea that every moment of life is an opportunity for meaningful service.

Summary of Career