Behind the Hymn: My Country Tis of Thee
In honor of the 4th of July yesterday, I wanted to share the story behind one of our beloved Patriotic hymns. My Country Tis of Thee is a popular Patriotic hymn, after our national…
Profile of a Hymn Composer: Fanny Crosby
Frances Jane Crosby was born on March 24, 1820 in Brewster, New York. She is best known as Fanny. At the age of six weeks, Fanny caught a cold that caused inflammation in her eyes.…
Behind the Christmas Hymn: Joy to the World
Joy to the World is a paraphrase of the Psalm 98. Originally the Christmas Carol was titled “The Messiah’s Coming and Kingdom” and first appeared in Watt’s 1719 “Psalms of David Imitated in the Language…
Behind the Hymn Sunday: In the Sweet By and By
The happy song, In the Sweet By and By, came from a moment of depression. Joseph Webster, a composer, was friends with Dr. Sandford Bennett. Joseph Webster was born in the east in 1819. As…