Hymn Story: Heavenly Sunlight

Henry Jeffreys Zelley, a Methodist minister, wrote the song in 1899. 

Born in 1859, Rev. Zelley served in ministry for over 50 years.  He was considered a Bible scholar and also known to write poetry in his spare time.  He is believed to have written more than 1,500 songs and poems in his lifetime.  He died in Trenton, New Jersey on March 16, 1942.

George Harrison Cook brought Rev. Zelley a tune, asking if he would write words for the tune.

In 1942, Charles E. Fuller, founder of the Old Fashioned Revival Hour radio broadcast, adopted the refrain for use.

While we have Heavenly Sunlight, let us remember we also have heavenly SONlight.