Hymn Story: God Give Us Christian Homes
Baylus B. McKinney wrote the hymn “God, Give Us Christian Homes” which is very fitting for Mother’s Day. He wrote around 150 songs and composed music for about 115 more songs. McKinney served as music…
Hymn Story: No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus
Charles F. Weigle wrote the hymn “No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus” in 1932. Mr. Weigle wrote over 1,000 Gospel songs and spent his career preaching and song writing.
Song Story: Spring Has Sprung
Spring is in the air making us think about the song “Spring Has Sprung.” The song was written by Thomas Chisholm, a Methodist minister and hymn writer. He dedicated his life to Christ around 1893…
Song Story: Shine, Jesus, Shine
“Shine, Jesus, Shine” is a popular praise song. It was written in 1987 by Graham Kendrick. Kendrick recounted that he’d written three verses and road-tested them. The song didn’t seem to come together and he…
Hymn Story: Come Worship Him
“Come and Worship” is a hymn written by Fanny Crosby. Over her career as a hymn writer, Crosby’s words were partnered with melodies of numerous composers. Phoebe Knapp is the composer of this hymn and…
Hymn Story: Scars in Heaven
“Scars in Heaven” is a song by Casting Crowns about hope in the midst of loss. Mark Hall wrote the story as his grandparents slowly passed away. To learn more about the story behind this…
Easter Song Story: St. John Passion
The Passion or oratorio “St. John Passion” was written by Johann Sebastian Bach. It was written during his first year as director of church music in Leipzig and was first performed on April 7, 1724,…
Hymn Story: My Song is Love Unknown
Samuel Crossman, a Puritan minister, wrote the hymn “My Song is Love Unknown” in 1664. At the time he wrote the hymn, he’d been exiled from the Church of England for his opposition to the…
Hymn Story: My Anchor Holds
William C. Martin wrote the 1902 hymn “My Anchor Holds.” Martin was born in 1864 in Hightstown, NJ. He served as a minister to churches in New Jersey, Connecticut, Indiana, Mass., and Florida and wrote…
Hymn Story: Let Us with a Gladsome Mind
John Milton (1608-1674) wrote the hymn “Let Us with a Gladsome Mind” in 1623. Milton composed various musical versions of some of the Psalms. This hymn is based on Psalm 136. The tune “Monkland” is…
Hymn Story: In the Cross of Christ I Glory
John Bowring wrote “In the Cross of Christ I Glory.” Bowing was born in Exeter, Devon, England on Oct. 17, 1792. He is considered a great linguist, having been self-taught, he mastered five languages. He…
Hymn Story: To You Alone
To You Alone was written by Fred and Ruth Coleman. The hymn is often referred to by its first line “Let us join our hearts together and give thanks in one accord.” The hymn has…
Hymn Story: Stand Up and Bless the Lord
James Montgomery wrote the hymn “Stand Up and Bless the Lord.” The hymn was written for the anniverary celebration of the Red Hill Wesleyan Sunday School in Sheffield, England. Montgomery was born in 1771 Scotland. …
Hymn Story: I Shall Know Him
Fanny Crosby wrote the hymn “My Savior First of All.” The hymn is also known as “I shall know Him.” Crosby, who was blind, wrote many hymns. She stated “If I had a choice, I…
Hymn Story: They’ll Know We Are Christians
“They’ll Know We Are Christians” is a hymn written by Father Peter Scholtes in the 1960s for an Ecumenical event. By the 1980s, Scholtes left the priesthood. He’d go on to become a business management…
Song Story: How Long Has It Been
Mosie Lister wrote “How Long Has It Been” which took him “little more than 10 minutes” to write. According to Lister, usually “I sweat blood over most of the songs I write.” He spoke in…
Hymn Story: Jesus is Lord of All
There is another hymn titled “Jesus is Lord of All” that is different from the Gaither version. This hymn was written by LeRoy McClard. The song was first published in The Broadman Press in 1966.…
Song Story: Jesus is the Lord of All
Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote “Jesus is Lord of All” and first published the song in 1973. The couple met when they taught at Alexandria Monroe High School. They married in 1962 and had three…
Christmas Song Story: We Three Kings
Peter Cornelius, a German composer, wrote “The Three Kings” under the oritinal title “Die Könige” for a vocal soloist. The carol describes the visit of the Biblical Magi to the Infant Jesus during the Nativity…
Christmas Song Story: Good King Wenceslas
“Good King Wenceslas” tells the story of a Bohemian king who goes on a journey, braving harsh winter weather, to give alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen (December 26, the Second…