Now the Day Is Over

This beautiful hymn was penned by Sabine Baring-Gould who was born in Exeter, England on January 28, 1834. He attended schools in Germany and France, then enrolled at Clare College in Cambridge where he learned six languages, soon after graduating he entered the ministry at age 30 and pastored in Yorkshire, Essex, and Devonshire. Sabine later became known as one of England’s most prolific writers. His works cover a huge range of topics: theology, folklore, social commentary, travel history. Some say that at one point there were more books listed under his name in the British Museum Library than under that of any other English writer. Sabine was more than an author, he was an archaeologist, an architect, an artist, and a teacher. Baring-Gould wrote this hymn especially for the children of his parish at Hornbury Bridge. It was based on Proverbs 3:24, “When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.” This hymn first appeared in the Church Times on February 16, 1865.

Sabine Baring-Gould is also the author of the well-known children’s hymn, “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” His large family home at Lew Trenchard, in Devonshire, is now used as a hotel.

The composer for the music to this hymn was Joseph Barnby, son of organist Thomas Barnby, and like his father Joseph was also an organist. He entered the choir of York Minster at age seven, and became an organist and choirmaster at twelve. In 1854 Joseph went to London and entered the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied under Cipriani Potter and Charles Lucas, then in 1856, he competed for the first Mendelssohn Scholarship. After finishing his courses, of the nineteen applicants, he tied for first place with Arthur Sullivan. They were given a second test, Sullivan won.