Edward Mote

Edward Mote was a 19th-century Baptist pastor and hymn writer, best known for authoring the enduring hymn "The Solid Rock." Born in London, England, on January 21, 1797, he grew up in a non-religious home. Mote spent 37 years working as an apprentice cabinet maker before his path turned toward ministry.

At age eighteen, Mote was baptized after being exposed to the Christian gospel. He eventually became the pastor of Rehoboth Baptist Church in Horsham, West Sussex, where he served faithfully for 26 years. During his lifetime, Mote authored approximately 100 hymns. In 1836, he published a collection of his works titled Hymns of Praise, A New Selection of Gospel Hymns.

His most recognized hymn, "The Solid Rock"—known by its opening line "My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less"—remains a staple in Christian worship. Edward Mote died on November 13, 1874, and is buried in the churchyard at Rehoboth Baptist Church, a fitting resting place for a man whose life moved from the craft of cabinet making to the lasting work of pastoral ministry and hymn writing.