• Born 18 March 1789, daughter of Charles Elliott the cabinet-maker (1752-1832) and Eling Venn (1758-1843).
• Half-sister of Charles Elliott (1776-1856).
• Hymn writer. Her Wikipedia entry is here.
• Died 22 September 1871, aged 82.

"The other daughter I wish to name is my [Great] Aunt Charlotte Elliott. Her well known hymns 'Just as I am' and 'My God my Father while I stray' - and many others have been a gift to the world. I am afraid to say into how many languages 'Just as I am' has been translated. Her brother 'Henry Venn', who often visited her on her sick bed, for she was a great invalid all her life, used to say "You have done more by that one Hymn of yours, than I by all my years of preaching"; this was a modest speech from a 'popular preacher', and yet it may have been true - and proves how God is pleased to use the 'weak things' of the world. So let not the weakest of you, my Children, be faint-hearted. You are not as gifted a family as the one I am describing, and whose blood runs in your veins - but 'To every man his gift of God', and 'To every man his work' - and to use that 'gift' and to take up that 'work' is surely the way to turn two talents into four - and the five into ten." *Memoirs of Emily Elliott p3

Just As I Am

Charlotte's best known hymn "Just As I Am" was influential for evangelist Billy Graham who used its title for his autobiography. It was also performed by Johnny Cash on his 1975 gospel album "Johnny Cash Sings Precious Memories", and again for his 2004 acoustic album "My Mother's Hymn Book" (it is thus the last song on what he claimed to be his favourite album):





Just as I am - without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - though toss'd about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
-O Lamb of God, I come!