Joseph M. Scriven (1819–1886)

Joseph Medlicott Scriven was an Irish-born Christian hymnwriter and layman whose quiet life of service in Canada left a lasting spiritual imprint far beyond his modest means. Educated in Ireland, he emigrated to Ontario in the mid-19th century after personal sorrow and disrupted hopes. Though never ordained, he lived with a settled devotion that showed itself less in public platforms than in daily compassion.

Life of Humble Charity in Ontario

Scriven spent much of his adult life in and around Port Hope and neighboring communities, supporting himself through humble labor while giving generously to those in need. He was known for practical mercy—sharing food, clothing, and money, and helping the sick and poor without fanfare. Poverty and frail health pressed him down, and long depression shadowed his later years, yet his pattern of kindness persisted, reflecting the Christian conviction that love must be lived, not merely spoken.

Sorrows and the Birth of a Hymn

Tragedy twice struck his hopes of marriage. His first beloved reportedly died suddenly just before their wedding in Ireland; later, another deep attachment ended through illness. Out of grief and steady faith, Scriven wrote lines that became the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” a plainspoken call to bring every trouble to Christ in prayer. The hymn’s endurance lies in its pastoral honesty: believers suffer real burdens, yet are invited to lay them before a present Savior.

Death by Drowning (August 10, 1886)

On August 10, 1886, in Ontario, Scriven died by drowning after being found in a nearby stream. Because he had been worn by illness, poverty, and depression, some friends feared the possibility of suicide; however, certainty is lacking, and his death remains clouded by unanswered questions. What is clear is that his final years, though outwardly small, were marked by steady service and a faith that pointed others to Christ.

Enduring Spiritual Significance

Scriven’s life commends a quiet heroism: persevering goodness when circumstances offer little reward. His hymn echoes Scripture’s invitation: “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). And, “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22).