Speaker for 28th November 2017

Vice President Des Moore greets William Mulligan, with Limavady guest David Jones (Far L) and club members Reggie Patterson (L) and John McKegney (R)

Coleraine Probus abides with the memory of Henry Francis Lyte

The Vice President, Des Moore, welcomed members to the meeting together with guest David Jones from the Limavady Probus Club. He then introduced this morning’s speaker, William Mulligan, also from the Limavady Probus Club, the topic of his talk being “Henry Francis Lyte.”

William’s interest in Henry Francis Lyte was aroused when his wife purchased a small book of Lyte’s poems in a local charity shop. Inside the book was a letter to a Dr. Brown from Dr. Cecil Lyte, a grandson of Lyte, which referred to the hymn ‘Abide with me’. Even in the secular world this hymn was adopted by the FA Cup final fans.

Henry Francis Lyte, born 1793, was the second son of Capt. Thomas Lyte and Anna Maria Oliver. Thomas deserted his family shortly after making arrangements for his two oldest sons, Thomas and Henry, to attend Portora Royal School. Anna moved to London where both she and her youngest son died. Two daughters having previously died, both being called Anna Maria. The Headmaster of Portora, Dr. Robert Burrowes, recognising Henry Lyte's ability paid the boy’s fees and welcomed him into his own family, effectively as an adopted son.

Thomas left Portora and returned to his father in Jersey. After studies at Trinity College in Dublin Henry took Anglican Holy Orders in 1815. He served as a curate at Taghmon, Wexford. The Rev. Abraham Swanne of Killurin Parish had a great spiritual influence on the life of Lyte. In 1817 he moved to Marazion in Cornwall where he met and married Anne Maxwell, a wealthy heiress. Together they had three sons and two daughters. Lyte served in four parishes in the south of England before moving to Brixham in Devon where he lived at Berry Head House. Here his ministry flourished as he was able to identify with the local fishermen.

In poor health throughout his life, he suffered various respiratory illnesses and often visited Italy and France in attempts to check their progress. Henry Francis Lyte died in 1847 at Nice, aged 54, where he is buried. A memorial tablet in Westminster Abbey was unveiled by his grandson but his legacy is contained in his writings of religious poetry and hymns.

A question and answer session followed the talk. A summary of the talk is available in the speaker’s record book and here on the club website.

A vote of thanks, proposed by Reggie Patterson was passed to William by the Vice President. The members showed their appreciation of an informative talk.

For some further reading about Henry Francis Late, 'Click' his photo below (this will open in a new window)

HenryLyte

And for another look at 'Abide with me', 'Click' the music below (this will also open in a new window)
Abide-Music
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