At even ere the sun was set

Authored by Henry Twells, this popular evening hymn was composed for and first published in the Appendix to Hymns Ancient and Modern (1868) in seven stanzas of four lines. It was originally written in eight stanzas; the omitted fourth stanza, beginning "And some are pressed with worldly care" was restored in Church Hymns (1871) and Godfrey Thring's Collection (1882).

Following its publication, it became one of the most widely adopted evening hymns in the English language across Great Britain and North America. Hymnals feature three slight variations of the first line: "At even, ere the sun did set," "At even, when the sun was set," and "At even, when the sun did set." The latter two readings, supported by Twells, draw directly on St. Mark 1:32 ("At even, when the sun did set, they brought unto Him all that were diseased"), reflecting the Jewish custom of waiting until the Sabbath ended at sunset before gathering the sick.