Synopsis "Works by Janet Grierson: on Frances Ridley Havergal (in English)"
Frances Ridley Havergal's written works in poetry, prose, and music are a rarely valuable treasure chest, a goldmine, and just as surely, accounts of her lived out life have so much benefit to others. For the centenary of F.R.H.'s death in 1979, when few were interested in F.R.H.'s life and works, Miss Janet Grierson (1913-2011) wrote and published a biography of Havergal, Frances Ridley Havergal: Worcestershire Hymnwriter. After that she wrote another book on her, Singing for Jesus, a golden study centered around several of her hymns; this second book remained in manuscript, never published, and was entrusted by Miss Grierson to David Chalkley in 2002. David, the compiler and editor of The Complete Works of Frances Ridley Havergal, has included in the Havergal edition both of Miss Grierson's books, and also a few articles by her that were found. He was honored and blessed to meet and know Miss Grierson in 2002, and her help in the preparation of the edition was invaluable. Several times he has said that Grierson's writings were the most important work on Havergal since Frances' sister Maria V. G. Havergal's work in the 19th century. Janet Grierson was richly blessed with ability, a brilliant scholar and a fine writer. These two books are overflowing with so many details on F.R.H.'s life and works, and give so much insight into this sweet psalmist of Worcestershire. A Personal Note: The 17th century gold-mine poet George Herbert wrote (in Outlandish [that is, "Foreign" like the German Ausländer, "outside the land," not our meaning of "absurd"] Proverbs, No. 50), "A dwarf on a giant's shoulder sees further of the two." I stood on Miss Janet Grierson's shoulder. I also stood on another's shoulder: I stood on Glen Wegge's shoulder. Both of these two were profoundly valuable in this work, and the Havergal edition would not be nearly what it is without their involvement. They were the Lord's provision. Thanks be to God. David Chalkley June 7, 2016
