She was a student of John Muir Wood and later became a popular writer of hymns, most especially "The Sands of Time Are Sinking", while travelling with her minister husband from 1854 to 1878.

One of her sons, John William Cousin, was a prominent writer and editor of A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature.

She was the only child of Dr. David Ross Cundell, a former assistant surgeon with the 33rd regiment at the Battle of Waterloo, and moved with her family to Leith soon after her birth.

During this time, Anne began writing church hymns for her husband's services and many of these became very popular in Britain during the mid-to late 19th century.

Hood Wilson introduced a shorted 5-verse version into a hymn book, "The Service of Praise", for his congregation at the Barclay Church in Edinburgh.