From the unruly streets of London to the pulpits of Baptist churches, Edward Mote’s life was a testament to the transformative power of God’s grace. Born in 1797 to pub-owning parents, young Edward grew up without any knowledge of the Bible or the loving presence of Christ. As he later recalled, “So ignorant was I that I did not know there was a God.”
But God had a plan for Edward Mote. As a young apprentice cabinetmaker, Mote’s life took a pivotal turn when his master brought him to the Tottenham Court Road Chapel. There, under the passionate preaching of John Hyatt, Mote encountered Jesus Christ and embraced Him as his Savior. This experience would forever change the course of his life.
Despite his newfound faith, Mote continued to work diligently as a cabinetmaker, eventually establishing his own successful business. However, his heart was now filled with a deep love for hymns and a desire to express his gratitude to God through music.
One fateful morning in 1834, as Mote walked to his workshop in Holborn, London, the words of a chorus came to his mind: “On Christ the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.” By the end of the day, he had penned four verses of what would become one of the most beloved hymns of all time.
The following Sunday, Mote visited a friend whose wife lay ill. As they gathered to sing a hymn and pray together, Mote realized he had forgotten his hymnal. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the verses he had written just days before. The words brought comfort and solace to the ailing woman, and Mote, moved by the impact of his composition, added two more stanzas and had 1,000 copies printed to share with others.
