An imagined interview with Anne Steele
Setting: We are in the year 1765, in the quiet village of Broughton, Hampshire. Miss Anne Steele, in her late forties, is seated in her chamber, a room she has long known due to chronic illness. Though her body is frail, her expression is serene and her eyes are full of a calm strength. The room is filled with books and a writing desk.
Interviewer: Miss Steele, thank you for inviting me. You are known to the wider world only by your pen name, "Theodosia." What led you to choose this classical name?
Anne Steele: It means "given by God". It is a reminder that any gift of poetry I possess is not my own, but a divine trust. Publishing one's works, even devotional ones, can stir up the human heart with pride. My father, a man of great faith, urged me to remain humble, and writing under a pseudonym helps remind me that the work is for the Lord, not for myself. It is a way of diverting praise from myself to the rightful Giver.
Interviewer: You endured significant trials in your life - the early loss of your mother, a childhood injury that left you a lifelong invalid, and the drowning of a very close friend. How did you maintain a cheerful and positive spirit amid such hardship?
Anne Steele: (A gentle, wistful smile.) Ah, I am often reminded of my own words: "When I survey life's varied scene, Amid the darkest hours, Sweet rays of comfort shine between, And thorns are mixed with flowers". The path of the Christian is not one without suffering, but our suffering does not define us. My afflictions forced me to seek a closer reliance on the Lord. It is in our weakness that His strength is made perfect. He became my "dear refuge" and my constant theme.
Interviewer: So your poetry and hymns flow directly from your walk with God?
Anne Steele: Indeed. The trials are but the seed from which the flower of praise grows. It is easy to sing of God's goodness when all is well, but the truest test of faith is in the night. My hymns were an attempt to capture and hold fast to the divine promises even when my human heart felt frail and ready to despair. My writing is a spiritual exercise, a way of holding a conversation with my God when words of common prose fail.
Interviewer: For a woman living a secluded life, you were surprisingly prolific. Two volumes of your poems were published in 1760. What was your purpose in sharing such private spiritual expressions with the public?
Anne Steele: The intention was simply to encourage my fellow believers. The hope was that my private musings might find resonance with other searching souls. As my father prayed when the first compositions went to print, I simply hoped that God would "make it useful, and keep her humble". I had no desire for renown, only that my hymns might be an instrument of grace in the hands of the Almighty.
Interviewer: Your hymns were embraced by Baptists and other denominations alike. The renowned Baptist minister, Dr. Caleb Evans, republished your work posthumously. Why do you think your hymns resonated so widely?
Anne Steele: I believe it is because they spoke to the universal human experience of struggling with doubt and pain while holding on to the certainty of God's love and sovereignty. I simply tried to be honest about my inner life. The hymns speak of a "bruised reed" and a "weary soul," but they also speak of the "transporting name" of Jesus and the "joys divine" found in His presence. Perhaps it is this honest portrayal of both the shadow and the light of faith that ministers to others.
Interviewer: Many of your hymns focus on the suffering of Christ. Why was this such a recurring theme for you?
Anne Steele: In my own suffering, I found profound comfort in contemplating His. The love of a Saviour who willingly bled and died for "vile, rebellious foes" is a wonder that exceeds all understanding. Gazing upon the cross, my own trials diminished, and I was reminded that God had already borne the greatest sorrow for me. It is a mystery, yes, but a source of profound strength and gratitude.
Interviewer: You often used profits from your works for charity. What motivated this generous act?
Anne Steele: As I mentioned, the gift is not my own. My family was blessed with a comfortable life, and so it was only fitting that the fruits of my writing should be used to support the work of the Lord, especially the training of young ministers. It was a small way of returning a portion of His blessings.
Interviewer: Miss Steele, your hymns have given voice to so many through the years. What is your hope for those who continue to sing them?
Anne Steele: I pray that they will find in them what I did: a reminder of God's unfailing grace in every season of life. Whether in moments of sorrow or joy, I pray they would be drawn into a deeper and more profound relationship with our Saviour. May they, too, find refuge in Him and know that they are "given by God" for His great and good purpose.
