Hymn of the Week

Hymn of the Week: Sunday, July 13, 2025

HE WILL HOLD ME FAST

Author: Ada Ruth Habershon (1861 – 1918)   Alterations by Matthew Merker in 2013
Music: Robert Harkness (1880 – 1961)   New melody by Matthew Merker in 2013

“He Will Hold Me Fast” is a great example of a previously popular hymn which faded in popularity but has found new life in contemporary versions. It was written in 1906 by Ada Ruth Habershon, an English theological author and gospel hymn writer born in London. She became personal friends with the famous London preacher Charles Spurgeon and met the American evangelists Dwight Moody and Ira Sankey when they were touring England in 1884. Before she ever wrote hymns, her religious writing produced more than a dozen theological books, the most well-known being books about characters in the Bible, the Parables, and Old Testament references to later New Testament people or events. She started writing hymns in 1899, first in German and later in English. In 1905, the American gospel singer Charles Alexander became familiar with Habershon’s work and asked her to write hymns for his tours with evangelist Reuben Archer Torrey. She responded by writing over 200 hymns, several of which became very popular during the early 20^th Century. “He Will Hold Me Fast” was written in 1906, and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” in 1907, both of which were very frequently sung during revival meetings and large evangelism events, but faded from popularity after World War I. In 1935, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” was rediscovered by A.P. Carter of the Carter Family and the reworked hymn became the blockbuster country gospel hit, “Can the Circle Be Unbroken? (By and By)” which has subsequently been recorded by many artists in multiple genres.

In 2013, a member of the Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C. became familiar with “He Will Hold Me Fast” and gave a copy to his choir director, Matthew Merker, who decided to significantly rework the original hymn during a time of personal faith struggle. His alterations included new music and an additional verse related to the resurrection and second coming of Jesus. The new “He Will Hold Me Fast” became a favorite at Capitol Hill Baptist Church and was eventually recorded by Keith and Kristyn Getty in 2016, who made the hymn widely popular again. It was also recorded by contemporary Christian singers Shane & Shane in 2018.

Scripture Inspirations:

Ada Ruth Habershon specified part of Psalm 139 as her inspiration for this hymn:

Psalm 139:1-10
¹ O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
² You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
³ You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
⁴ Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is so high that I cannot attain it.
⁷ Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
⁹ If I take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.

Matthew Merker named Jude 1:24-25 as his inspiration for his alterations of Habershon’s hymn:

Jude 1:24-25
²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, ²⁵ to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Lyrics:

When I fear my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail,
He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path;
For my love is often cold;
He must hold me fast.

He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast;
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.

Those He saves are His delight,
Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in His holy sight,
He will hold me fast.
He’ll not let my soul be lost;
His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast.

He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast;
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.

For my life He bled and died,
Christ will hold me fast;
Justice has been satisfied;
He will hold me fast.
Raised with Him to endless life,
He will hold me fast
‘Til our faith is turned to sight,
When He comes at last.

He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast.
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.