O Breath of Life

Bessie Porter Head, born Elizabeth Ann Porter in 1850 in Belfast, Ireland, was a British hymn writer, missionary, and Christian speaker whose life was marked by devoted service and spiritual influence. She was the youngest daughter of Tobias Porter, a flour mill manager, though little is recorded about her early upbringing.

Her known public ministry began in 1894 when she became secretary of the Young Women’s Christian Association in Swansea. This role marked the beginning of her active involvement in Christian outreach, particularly among women. A few years later, from 1897 to 1907, she served with the South Africa General Mission, working primarily in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, and Johannesburg. During this period, she helped establish several YWCA branches, demonstrating both organizational ability and missionary zeal.

In 1906 to 1907, she traveled across North America with mission leaders to promote their work. However, instead of returning to South Africa as planned, she married Albert Alfred Head on December 17, 1907. After her marriage, she became widely known as Bessie Porter Head, a name she retained for the rest of her life. Together with her husband, she continued to support missionary efforts and was closely associated with the Keswick Convention, a movement known for its emphasis on deeper spiritual life and holiness.

Bessie Porter Head was also a prolific writer. She contributed both prose and poetry to Christian publications and released a collection titled Heavenly Places, & Other Messages in 1920. Her writings reflect themes of spiritual renewal, surrender, and the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life.

She is best remembered for her hymn “O Breath of Life, Come Sweeping Through Us,” which has been widely used in Christian worship. The hymn is a prayer for revival and spiritual awakening, calling upon the Holy Spirit to renew the Church and empower believers for holy living. Its enduring popularity reflects both its theological depth and heartfelt expression.

After her husband’s death in 1928, she moved to a mission house in Wimbledon, where she spent her remaining years. She passed away there on June 28, 1936.