The Cadbury Egg Connection to Hymnody

The hymn "Anywhere with Jesus," has a few distinguishing anecdotes behind it including a connection to Cadbury Chocolate.

First, the music to this hymn came first before any words were in anyone’s mind or heart.

Composer Daniel Towner was inspired by a sermon delivered by Dwight L. Moody on the theme, “Anywhere with Jesus” and wrote music he felt conveyed that thought. He then turned to hymn writer Jessie Pounds to write the words.

Second, this hymn was written by two different people. 

Jessie Pounds wrote stanzas one, two and five. Fast forward 30 years later and Helen Alexander Dixon wrote stanzas three and four.

Helen’s maiden name was Cadbury — yes, that Cadbury, and was an heiress to the Cadbury Chocolate fortune.

Her true legacy, however, was not in sweets but in her sweet service to Christ. 

At age 12, she and a school friend invited their entire school to read the Bible with them and 80 classmates accepted Christ. They even sewed pockets into their dresses so they could carry their Bibles with them everywhere — even on the playground.

She continued her faithful service into adulthood and founded the Pocket Testament League which to this day, still shares the Gospel through the giving of Bibles.

Anywhere With Jesus 

by Jessie Pounds, 1887 (st. 1,2,5) and Helen C. A. Dixon (st. 3, 4)

Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go,
Anywhere He leads me in this world below;
Anywhere without Him dearest joys would fade;
Anywhere with Jesus I am not afraid.

Ps. 23:4; Josh. 1:9; Prov. 16:9; Prov. 3:5-6; John 15:5; Ps. 16:2; Heb. 13:6

Refrain:
Anywhere, anywhere! Fear I cannot know;
Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go.

Ps. 118:6

Anywhere with Jesus I am not alone;
Other friends may fail me, He is still my own;
Though His hand may lead me over drearest ways,
Anywhere with Jesus is a house of praise.

Matt. 28:20; Ps. 145:18; Ps. 27:10; John 14:18; John 15:15. Isa. 41:10

Anywhere with Jesus I need fear no ill,
Though temptations gather round my pathway still;
He Himself was tempted that He might help me;
Anywhere with Jesus I may victor be.

Ps. 46:1-3; Ps. 34:18; Matt. 6:13; Matt. 26:41; Heb. 2:18; 1 Cor. 10:13; 1 Cor. 15:57; 1 John 5:4; Phil. 4:13

Anywhere with Jesus, over land and sea,
Telling souls in darkness of salvation free;
Ready as He summons me to go or stay,
Anywhere with Jesus when He points the way.

Acts 1:8; Ps. 139:9-10; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 13:47; John 3:16; Isa. 6:8; 1 Sam. 3:4; Prov. 3:5-6; Ps. 25:4

Anywhere with Jesus I can go to sleep,
When the dark’ning shadows round about me creep,
Knowing I shall waken nevermore to roam;
Anywhere with Jesus will be home, sweet home.

Ps. 4:8; Matt. 11:28; 2 Thess. 3:16; John 8:12; Ps. 119:130; Ezekiel 34:16; Luke 19:10; Phil. 1:6; John 14:1-4; Rev. 21:4

Note: Scripturized hymn texts and engaging hymn stories like you see above (but especially written for children) are included inside each Hymns Illustrated hymn study pack available for purchase here.