On January 30, 1873, the iron sailing vessel Loch Earn docked in Port Adelaide, Australia, to restock and take on passengers before continuing its journey north. Less than a year later, on November 22, 1873, tragedy struck.
In thick fog at 3 a.m., Loch Earn collided with the passenger steamship Ville du Havre while crossing the Atlantic. The disaster claimed 226 lives, including all four daughters of American lawyer Horatio Spafford: Annie (12), Maggie (7), Bessie (4), and Tanetta (18 months). His wife, Anna, survived and, upon reaching Cardiff, Wales, sent a heartbreaking telegram to her husband: “Saved alone.”
While traveling to reunite with Anna, Horatio penned It Is Well with My Soul as his ship passed near the site where his daughters perished. The hymn went on to become a worldwide classic, sung in churches around the world.
Now, Australian composer and producer David Maegraith—born in Sydney and based in Adelaide—has written a book, musical and feature film telling the powerful story surrounding this tragedy.
Hello, I’m David Maegraith, publisher of Itiswellwithmysoul.com, author of the novella It Is Well with My Soul, creator of this musical, and producer of the feature film adaptation – currently in development. As you can tell, I’m deeply passionate about this story! Why? Because its timeless message of hope, resilience, and faith continues to inspire hearts and transform lives.
Listen to David talk about the new musical on Life FM radio Australia
And, for a limited time, thanks to The Old Schoolhouse®, you can download the Musical Songbook PDF with all you need to present It Is Well with My Soul in your location for FREE.
Just fill in this form to receive the PDF Songbook download link. Thanks to our friends at The Old Schoolhouse®
It Is Well with My Soul: The Musical is a brand-new production and I couldn’t be more thrilled to share it with you! This comprehensive songbook includes lyrics, stage directions, and everything you need to bring this powerful story to life in your church, school, or local community.
And it really is a community project to present this musical – after finding your cast and crew, you can decide if and how many live musicians you want, work with local dancers to put on some stunning dances, and local dressmakers to reproduce the stunning costumes from the era.
Listen to the superb soundtrack – you can use the songs on stage as backing tracks!
Now, here’s the best part: You can stage this musical for free! That’s right—there’s no upfront charge. All we ask is a share of ticket sales or donations if you decide not to sell tickets.
And, since the musical is brand new, you have the unique opportunity to be the very first to present it in your town—or perhaps even your state or country. Imagine being part of history as you share this moving production with your community.
Warm regards,
David Maegraith Itiswellwithmysoul.com
Buy the Libretto and Stage Directions on Amazon just $7.95
Download the PDF version free – see above – or order the print version on Amazon
One of the most beloved songs of all time, It Is Well with My Soul carries with it a poignant and deeply personal story of loss, faith, and comfort. Written by Horatio Spafford, with music by Philip Bliss (“Hallelujah, What a Saviour!”), It Is Well with My Soul has become a symbol of peace in the face of life’s greatest trials.
Horatio Spafford was a successful businessman in Chicago in the mid-19th century. His life, however, was marked by a series of tragic events that would shape the words of this song. The first blow came in 1871, when the Great Chicago Fire devastated much of the city, including Spafford’s real estate investments. Despite the financial ruin, Spafford remained hopeful and steadfast in his faith. Then, in 1873, further tragedy struck when Spafford’s four daughters—Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta drowned in a horrific shipwreck.
In his profound grief, Spafford decided to travel to Europe to be with his wife. During the journey, as the ship passed near the spot where his daughters had drowned, Spafford felt a wave of peace wash over him. It was at that moment that he penned the words of “It Is Well with My Soul.” The song expresses the assurance that, despite the overwhelming pain of loss, God’s grace and love remain constant.
The opening verse of the song, “When peace like a river, attendeth my way, / When sorrows like sea billows roll,” reflects Spafford’s internal struggle between profound sorrow and an enduring sense of peace. His trust in God’s plan and eternal promises enabled him to find comfort amid the unspeakable tragedy.
Your Opportunity to Shine:
Be the first to present this extraordinary musical to your community and the world. You choose when to present it in 2025, and how many performances
Enjoy flexible arrangements: No upfront licensing fees—we only ask for 30% of gross ticket sales
Amplify your church and musicians: Re-record some or all the musical’s songs (with our permission) for release on streaming platforms Spotify and Apple Music – what a great way to amplify your team and church (Bandcamp and Tunecore are just some of the services who enable you to release cover songs to streaming, check their websites for details)
Streaming and Video Options:
If you choose to film your production, we can offer the opportunity to stream it on our upcoming Vimeo channel, providing further exposure for your church.
We’d love to discuss how your church can bring this inspiring story to life. To express your interest or ask any questions, simply fill in the form below. With advancements in staging and screen technology, presenting a musical in 2025 may be more affordable than you think—feel free to ask us for more details!
Interested in presenting the musical in 2025? Download the Musical Songbook PDF and we will be in touch.
Discover the Story Behind the Beloved Hymn – It Is Well with My Soul
The new book It Is Well with My Soul is now available on Amazon, sharing the moving story behind one of history’s most powerful hymns.
After losing his four daughters in a tragic ship collision, Horatio Spafford wrote the hymn as his ship passed the accident site. His words of faith and hope continue to inspire millions worldwide.
The book explores the Spafford family’s resilience, the events surrounding the Ville du Havre disaster, and the hymn’s lasting impact.
✨ Gripping storytelling – a deeply moving narrative. ✨ Historical depth – rich maritime and cultural context. ✨ Uplifting themes – a story of hope in tragedy.
The next project, and the most ambitious, is the feature film It Is Well with My Soul. In cinemas around the world and then streaming here on Itiswellwithmysoul.com
Would you like to be involved in the movie, as cast or crew? Fill in the form below and we will be in touch.
One of the most beloved songs of all time, “It Is Well with My Soul,” carries with it a poignant and deeply personal story of loss, faith, and comfort.
Written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873, this song has become a symbol of peace in the face of life’s greatest trials. Horatio Spafford: a successful businessman and admired citizen of Chicago in the mid-19th century.
His life, however, was marked by a series of tragic events that would shape the words of this song. The first blow came in 1871, when the Great Chicago Fire devastated much of the city, including Spafford’s real estate investments. Despite the financial ruin, Spafford remained hopeful and steadfast in his faith. Then, in 1873, further tragedy struck when Spafford’s four daughters—Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta drowned in a horrific shipwreck.
In the 19th century, the North Atlantic Ocean was a particularly perilous area for maritime travel, given its harsh weather conditions and high shipping traffic. While disasters like the Titanic (1912) are more famous, several major shipwrecks in the North Atlantic during the 19th century stand out.
1. SS Atlantic (1873) – 535 deaths.
Sank off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, en route from Liverpool to New York, after running aground in bad weather. This disaster happened the same year as the Ville du Havre tragedy with a significantly higher death toll.
2. SS Central America (1857) – 425 deaths.
Sank in a hurricane while en route from Panama to New York. Though technically in the mid-Atlantic, it’s often associated with the northern routes due to its destination.
2. SS Ville du Havre (1873) – 226 deaths.
Sank after colliding with the Loch Earn in the North Atlantic. The Spafford women were traveling to Europe on the French ship Ville du Havre, and as they crossed the Atlantic Ocean, the ship collided with another vessel and sank. Horatio’s wife, Anna, survived the disaster and sent a heart-wrenching telegram to her husband that simply read, “Saved alone.”
In his profound grief, Spafford decided to travel to Europe to be with his wife. During the journey, as the ship passed near the spot where his daughters had drowned, Spafford felt a wave of peace wash over him. It was at that moment that he penned the words of “It Is Well with My Soul.” The song expresses the assurance that, despite the overwhelming pain of loss, God’s grace and love remain constant.
The opening verse of the song, “When peace like a river, attendeth my way, / When sorrows like sea billows roll,” reflects Spafford’s internal struggle between profound sorrow and an enduring sense of peace. His trust in God’s plan and eternal promises enabled him to find comfort amid the unspeakable tragedy.
The refrain, “It is well, it is well, with my soul,” became a declaration of his faith—a profound affirmation that, despite the storm of life, his soul could still find peace. Over the years, “It Is Well with My Soul” has resonated with countless people facing their own trials and now a timeless song of hope, comfort, and unwavering faith.
Spafford’s legacy is a testament to the power of trusting in God’s presence and peace, even when the world seems to crumble around us. Today, “It Is Well with My Soul” continues to inspire and uplift people around the world, reminding us that, no matter the circumstances, we can find peace in the truth that, through it all, it is well with our souls.
Philip P. Bliss composed the music to It Is Well with My Soul in 1876, the tune named after the ship on which Spafford’s daughters died, Ville du Havre. P. P. Bliss was born in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania in a log cabin.
His father was Isaac Bliss, who taught the family to pray daily, his mother was Lydia Doolittle. He loved music and was allowed to develop his passion for singing. His sister was Mary Elizabeth Willson, a gospel singer, singer, composer and evangelist.
In 1869, Bliss formed an association with Dwight L. Moody. Moody and others urged him to give up his job and become a missionary singer. In 1874, Bliss decided he was called to full-time Christian evangelism. Bliss made significant amounts of money from royalties and gave them to charity and to support his evangelical endeavors.
Bliss also wrote “Hold the Fort,” a stirring anthem of Christian resolve, in 1870, during the tumultuous years of the American Civil War. Its lyrics, which encourage believers to remain steadfast in faith, resonated strongly with those enduring the hardships of war. Another well-known composition, “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning,” written in 1871, reflects Bliss’s evangelistic zeal, urging Christians to be the guiding light for others in the world.
In addition to these, Bliss composed “Almost Persuaded,” a gospel song that poignantly captures the emotions of one who is on the verge of accepting Christ but hesitates. He also wrote “Hallelujah, What a Savior!”—a powerful hymn celebrating Christ’s sacrifice, often sung during Holy Week.
On 29 December 1876, the Pacific Express train on which Bliss and his wife Lucy were traveling in approached Ashtabula, Ohio. While the train was in the process of crossing a trestle bridge it collapsed, and the carriages fell into the ravine below. Bliss escaped from the wreck, but the carriages caught fire and Bliss returned to try to extricate his wife. No trace of either body was discovered.
Ninety-two of the 159 passengers are believed to have died in what became known as the Ashtabula River Railroad Disaster. The Blisses were survived by their two sons, George and Philip Paul, then aged four and one, respectively.
