Adams, Sarah

Sarah Adams, nee Flower, was born at Harlow, Essex, on February 22, 1805. She was the younger daughter of Benjamin Flower, editor and proprietor of The Cambridge Intelligencer. In 1834, she married William B. Adams, a civil engineer. She published Vivia Perpetua, a dramatic poem depicting early Christian martyrdom, in 1841, and The Flock at the Fountain, a catechism and collection of hymns for children, in 1845. She also contributed to Novello's musical edition of Songs for the Months.

As a member of the London congregation of Rev. W. J. Fox, a prominent Unitarian minister, she contributed 13 hymns to Hymns and Anthems, published by C. Fox in 1841 for use in his chapel. Among these, her most widely known work is "Nearer, my God, to Thee," alongside "He sendeth sun, He sendeth shower." Her other eleven contributions to the collection, which entered common usage particularly in British and American Unitarian hymnbooks, include "Creator Spirit! Thou the first," "Darkness shrouded Calvary," "Gently fall the dews of eve," "Go, and watch the Autumn leaves," "O hallowed memories of the past," "O human heart! thou hast a song," "O I would sing a song of praise," "O Love! thou makest all things even," "Part in Peace! is day before us?" "Sing to the Lord! for His mercies are sure," and "The mourners came at break of day." The 1841 collection also included her translation from Fénelon, "Living or dying, Lord, I would be Thine," which was later included in James Martineau's Hymns of Praise and Prayer (1873).

Adams passed away in London on August 14, 1848, and was buried at Harlow on August 21, 1848.