Anna Louisa Walker Coghill (1836–1907)

On July 7, 1907, Anna Louisa Walker Coghill died in Bath, England. Her life was not marked by public spectacle, yet her pen became a trumpet to rouse sleepy hearts. She is remembered most for a single hymn that carried the weight of Christ’s words into ordinary days, turning routine hours into holy opportunity.

Her lasting influence shows how God often advances His work through quiet faithfulness. Without seeking a platform, she gave the church a vocabulary for diligence, courage, and perseverance; the kind of heroism that keeps serving when no one is applauding.

“Work, for the Night Is Coming”

Coghill’s best-known hymn, “Work, for the Night Is Coming,” presses a biblical urgency that does not panic, but prioritizes. It echoes Jesus’ sober reminder: “While it is daytime, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” (John 9:4)

The hymn’s movement through the day—morning, noon, and evening—teaches a simple discipleship: start early, endure the heat, finish well. Its call is not to earn salvation, but to spend a redeemed life wisely. Many have sung it in seasons of missionary sending, local evangelism, reform efforts, and the unseen labor of prayer, parenting, and mercy.

Bath, England, and a Quiet Ending

Bath, long known for healing waters and restful streets, became the setting of her final chapter. Yet the message she left behind was not rest without purpose, but rest after obedience. Her passing in a peaceful city only highlights the contrast: the body grows still, but faithful words keep walking.

Legacy: Redeeming the Time

Coghill’s hymn continues to counsel believers to make much of the hours God grants. Scripture frames this as wisdom, not mere productivity: “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16)

Her legacy endures wherever Christians choose prompt obedience over delay, steadiness over distraction, and hope over weariness. She still calls the church to serve Christ without postponement—doing today’s work in today’s light, and leaving tomorrow in the Lord’s hands.