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Charlotte Elliott (1789-1871) was a Christian poet and hymn writer, best known for her hymn, Just As I Am, written in 1834.

'''Charlotte Elliott''' (1789-1871) was a Christian poet and hymn writer, best known for her hymn, Just As I Am, written in 1834.

== Early Life ==

== Early life ==

Charlotte Elliott was a daughter and granddaughter, as well as a sister and niece of pious Anglican clergy.<ref>Evelyn Bence, Spiritual Moments with the Great Hymns, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 1997</ref> As a young woman Elliott was a gifted portrait artist and writer of humorous verse.<ref>William J. Petersen & Ardythe Petersen, The Complete Book of Hymns, Tyndale House, Carol Stream, IL, 2006, p. 345.</ref>

Charlotte Elliott was a daughter and granddaughter, as well as a sister and niece of pious Anglican clergy.<ref>Evelyn Bence, Spiritual Moments with the Great Hymns, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 1997</ref> As a young woman Elliott was a gifted portrait artist and writer of humorous verse.<ref>William J. Petersen & Ardythe Petersen, The Complete Book of Hymns, Tyndale House, Carol Stream, IL, 2006, p. 345.</ref>

== Later Life ==  

== Later life ==

Suddenly, in her early thirties, Elliott suffered a serious illness that left her weak and depressed.<ref>The Complete Book of Hymns, Tyndale House, Carol Stream, IL, 2006, p. 345.</ref>  She was unable to go out, or to attend church.  During her illness, a well-known preacher, Dr. Caesar Malan of Switzerland visited her and asked her if she had peace with God.  She resented the question and refused to talk about it.  She complained loudly that if God really loved her, He would not have allowed such an illness.  Her family was so embarrassed by her outburst that they all left the room, leaving her alone with the evangelist. A few days later she apologized to Dr. Malan, saying she needed to clean up her life before becoming a Christian.  Dr. Malan answered, "Come just as you are."  That day Charlotte yielded her life to Christ.  She found salvation and peace of heart, even though her health did not improved.<ref>Lorella Rouster, "The Story of 'Just As I Am', Sunday School Times & Gospel Herald, Union Gospel Press, Cleveland, OH, Summer 2007, p. 50</ref>   

Suddenly, in her early thirties, Elliott suffered a serious illness that left her weak and depressed.<ref>The Complete Book of Hymns, Tyndale House, Carol Stream, IL, 2006, p. 345.</ref>  She was unable to go out, or to attend church.  During her illness, a well-known preacher, Dr. Caesar Malan of Switzerland visited her and asked her if she had peace with God.  She resented the question and refused to talk about it.  She complained loudly that if God really loved her, He would not have allowed such an illness.  Her family was so embarrassed by her outburst that they all left the room, leaving her alone with the evangelist. A few days later she apologized to Dr. Malan, saying she needed to clean up her life before becoming a Christian.  Dr. Malan answered, "Come just as you are."  That day Charlotte yielded her life to Christ.  She found salvation and peace of heart, even though her health did not improved.<ref>Lorella Rouster, "The Story of 'Just As I Am', Sunday School Times & Gospel Herald, Union Gospel Press, Cleveland, OH, Summer 2007, p. 50</ref>   

Charlotte continued to struggle from time to time with feelings of uselessness.  One day when she was 45, her clergyman brother was planning a special fund-raising program for a school.  He was trying to educate the daughters of poor clergy.  As the whole household buzzed around her, Charlotte wanted so much to help, but she was unable.  The day of the program came and everyone went to it, leaving her alone.  In her struggles, she began to reflect on her conversion experience.  The words to "Just As I Am" flowed easily out of her heart.<ref>Lorella Rouster, "The Story of 'Just As I Am', Sunday School Times & Gospel Herald, Union Gospel Press, Cleveland, OH, Summer 2007, p. 50</ref>  Originally the poem was published in tract form without her byline.  One day, her doctor gave her a copy, not realizing that she was the author.  He told her copies were being sold and the money used to help the school her brother was working to establish.  Charlotte could not hold back the tears as she realized God was using her after all.  In the end, her poem brought in more money than all the other fund-raisers the family had done combined..<ref>Lorella Rouster, "The Story of 'Just As I Am', Sunday School Times & Gospel Herald, Union Gospel Press, Cleveland, OH, Summer 2007, p. 50</ref> Charlotte died in 1871 at 82 years of age.

Charlotte continued to struggle from time to time with feelings of uselessness.  One day when she was 45, her clergyman brother was planning a special fund-raising program for a school.  He was trying to educate the daughters of poor clergy.  As the whole household buzzed around her, Charlotte wanted so much to help, but she was unable.  The day of the program came and everyone went to it, leaving her alone.  In her struggles, she began to reflect on her conversion experience.  The words to "Just As I Am" flowed easily out of her heart.<ref>Lorella Rouster, "The Story of 'Just As I Am', Sunday School Times & Gospel Herald, Union Gospel Press, Cleveland, OH, Summer 2007, p. 50</ref>  Originally the poem was published in tract form without her byline.  One day, her doctor gave her a copy, not realizing that she was the author.  He told her copies were being sold and the money used to help the school her brother was working to establish.  Charlotte could not hold back the tears as she realized God was using her after all.  In the end, her poem brought in more money than all the other fund-raisers the family had done combined.<ref>Lorella Rouster, "The Story of 'Just As I Am', Sunday School Times & Gospel Herald, Union Gospel Press, Cleveland, OH, Summer 2007, p. 50</ref> Charlotte died in 1871 at 82 years of age.

== Hymns ==

== Hymns ==