Coghill, Annie Louisa, daughter of Robert Walker, was born in Kiddermore, England, In 1836. In 1884 she was married to Harry Coghill. "Work, for the night is coming," was written in 1854, which was before her marriage and when she was only eighteen years of age. She was then residing in Canada, and the hymn was first printed in a Canadian newspaper. The author's text is found in her Oak and Maple, 1890. Her occasional poems printed in various Canadian newspapers were gathered together and published in 1859 In a volume titled Leaves from the Backwoods. In 1898 Mrs. Coghill edited and published the Autobiography and Letters of her cousin, Mrs. Oliphant.

Work, for the night is coming 422