Hymn Story: Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed
Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed was written by Isaac Watts. Watts was born on July 17, 1674 in Southampton, England. In 1702, he became a pastor and accepted a call to Abney Park, where…
Hymn Story: An Evening Hymn
Thomas Ken was born in 1637 Hertfordshire, England. He studied a Winchester College and became ordained in the Church of England in 1662. He is said to be “a man of conscience and independent mind…
Hymn Story: Children of the heavenly Father
Children of the heavenly Father was written by Caroline W. Sandell Berg. She was born in 1832 Sweden and known as Lina Sandell, the “Fanny Crosby of Sweden.” “Lina”. She wrote hymns partly to cope…
Hymn Story: Come down, O Love divine
Come down, O Love divine was written by Bianco da Siena an Italian poet and wool worker who was born at Anciolina, in the Val d’Arno around 1350. In 1367 he entered the Order of…
Hymn Story: Blessed Jesus at thy Word
Blessed Jesus, at Thy word was written by Tobias Clausnitzer. He was born in 1619 Saxony. In 1644 he was appointed chaplain to a Swedish regiment. He preached the sermon at the accession of Christina…
Christmas Song Story: Christmas Canon
Christmas Canon is set to Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major. Paul O’Neill provided lyrics to Pachelbel’s music. The song is performed by Trans-Siberian Orchestra and a departure from their normal rock arrangements. The group…
Christmas Song Story: Rise Up Shepherd and Foller
The song originated as a spiritual The text was first published in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine in January 1891. The song appears in the middle of a story by Ruth McEnery Stuart and takes place at a place…
Christmas Song Story: Mary’s Boy Child
Mary’s Boy Child is a popular Christmas carol written in 1956 by Jester Hairston. Hairston roomed with a friend who asked him to write a song for a birthday party. He wrote the song with…
Christmas Song Story: The Friendly Beasts
The Friendly Beasts is another strong contender as one of the oldest Christmas songs. It was written in French about the animals surrounded Christ at the nativity. The song is about the gifts that five…
Christmas Song Story: Of the Father’s Love Begotten
Of the Father’s Love Begotten is another song considered among the oldest Christmas hymns. It started as a Latin poem titled “Corde natus” and was written by the Roman poet Auerlius Prudentius. He wrote it for…
Christmas Song Story: Jesus Illuminates All
A friend was searching for the oldest Christmas hymns and stumbled upon this hymn. So, it lead me to search out the stories behind these old Christmas hymns. The song was composed in Latin by…
Thanksgiving Hymn: Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven
Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven was written by Rev. Henry Francis Lyte. The text is based on Psalm 103 which begins with “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within…
Song Story: More than Wonderful
More Than Wonderful is a well known duet by Sandy Patti and Larnelle Harris. They first released the song in 1983 and the following year won Best Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group. The…
Patriotic Song: Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue
Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue was written by Toby Keith and became a hit following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Keith wrote the song in late 2001, inspired by the patriotism that errupted…
Hymn Story: Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
Henry Jackson Van Dyke was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania on November 10, 1852. He attended Princeton University, Princeton Theological Seminary and the University of Berlin. Van Dyke served as pastor of Brick Presbyterian Church for…
Hymn Story: I’ll Fly Away
I’ll Fly Away was written by Albert E. Brumley in 1929. The song was influenced by the 1924 secular ballad, “The Prisoner’s Song”. Brumley was reportedly picking cotton on his father’s farm in Rock Island,…
Hymn Story: Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Imagine standing at the foot of Jesus cross with his mother, Mary Magdalene, the other women and the apostle John. Beneath the Cross of Jesus gives us insight to this time and place. The song…
Hymn Story: O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing was one of the more than six thousand hymns that was written by Charles Wesley. In May 1738, Charles Wesley was suffering from pleurisy, while studying with his…
Hymn Story: This is the Day
This is the Day is an upbeat song that reminds us that this is the day the Lord has made, we should be happy and rejoice. The hymn is based on Psalm 118:24, “This is…
Hymn Story: Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak
Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak was written by Frances R. Havergal in 1872. Havergal is one of several women hymn writers who lived in the late Victorian era of England {18th Century}.…