Experience 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.
On January 30, 1873 the iron sailing vessel Loch Earn docked in Port Adelaide to restock and take on more passengers for a journey to the northern hemisphere. Less than a year later, on November 22, 1873, the Loch Earn collided with the Ville du Havre, a passenger steamship crossing the Atlantic in thick fog.
The tragedy claimed the lives of 226 people, including all four daughters of American lawyer Horatio Spafford: Annie (12), Maggie (7), Bessie (4), and Tanetta (18 months).
Horatio’s wife, Anna, survived the disaster. Upon reaching Cardiff, Wales, she sent a heart-breaking telegram to her husband that simply read: “Saved alone.” While traveling to join his grieving wife, Horatio was inspired to compose the song It Is Well with My Soul as his ship passed near the site of the tragedy.
This song has gone on to become a global classic, sung in churches around the world as frequently as Amazing Grace.