Edward Mote Biography: Songs, Ethnicity, Ministry, Wife, Height, Net Worth, Children, Religion, Death

Edward Mote, a 19th-century English Baptist pastor and hymn writer, is best remembered for composing the enduring gospel hymn “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less,” commonly known as “The Solid Rock.”

With its memorable refrain “On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand,” the song has offered comfort and assurance to believers for nearly two centuries.

A former cabinet maker who entered ministry later in life, Mote served faithfully as pastor of Rehoboth Baptist Church in Horsham, West Sussex, for 26 years.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Edward Mote
• Born: 21 January 1797
• Died: 13 November 1874
• Age: 77 years old
• Birthplace: Upper Thames Street, London, United Kingdom
• Nationality: British
• Occupation: Hymn Writer, Cabinet Maker, Baptist Pastor
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Mote
• Siblings: 5
• Spouse: Ellison Ellen Falkner (m. 1850)
• Children: 4
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: Unknown

Early Life and Education

Edward Mote was born on 21 January 1797 in Upper Thames Street, London, United Kingdom.

His parents managed a pub and provided little religious upbringing, often leaving young Edward to play unsupervised in the streets.

He had no formal theological training in his youth and was apprenticed as a cabinet maker at an early age.

At 15, while living in Southwark, he attended Tottenham Court Road Chapel and heard the preaching of John Hyatt, leading to his conversion in 1813.

Mote worked 37 years as a cabinet maker in London, building a successful business.

His ethnicity was Caucasian, and his religion was Christianity.

Career

Edward Mote began writing hymns around 1825 while still working as a cabinet maker.

One Sunday morning, on his way to visit a sick friend, he composed the first four verses and chorus of “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” after reflecting on the security found in Christ rather than personal feelings.

He later completed the six stanzas and shared the hymn, which quickly gained popularity when set to music by William B. Bradbury.

Though he wrote more than 100 hymns in total, most remained lesser known and were published in various collections of his day.

In his mid-50s, around 1852, Mote left his trade to enter full-time ministry.

He became pastor of Rehoboth Baptist Church (a Strict Baptist congregation) in Horsham, West Sussex, serving faithfully from approximately 1848 until his death in 1874.

His congregation held him in high regard, so much so that they offered him the church building as a personal gift, which he declined in favor of it remaining a place of worship for the community.

Mote’s preaching focused on Christ-centered themes of grace, assurance, and the finished work of the cross.

Edward Mote’s legacy endures primarily through “The Solid Rock,” a hymn that has been translated into many languages and remains a staple in hymnals worldwide.

His life illustrates a remarkable transition from a secular trade to pastoral ministry, and his simple, scripture-based lyrics continue to strengthen the faith of Christians facing life’s uncertainties long after his passing.

Social Media

Edward Mote does not have any social media accounts.

Personal Life

Edward Mote married Ellison Ellen Falkner in 1850.

The couple experienced significant sorrow, as ten children were born to them but only four survived to adulthood.

Mote lived a life marked by steady faith, hard work, and devotion to his congregation in Horsham.

He died on 13 November 1874 and was buried in the churchyard at Rehoboth Baptist Church, where a memorial tablet honors his 26 years of faithful service preaching “Christ and Him crucified.”

Discography (Hymns)

• “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” (also known as “The Solid Rock,” 1825/1834)

Net Worth

Edward Mote, as a 19th-century English cabinet maker turned Baptist pastor, left no publicly documented net worth figure.

His income came primarily from his successful cabinet-making business in London for nearly four decades and later from modest support as a pastor.