“My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you-I whom you have delivered.” – Psalm 71:23 The author of the hymn, Henry Jackson van Dyke, was born in Pennsylvania in 1852 and became pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. Henry later became professor […]
Song Story
94 posts
Rev. Augustus Toplady published this hymn with a collection of others in 1776. According to legend, Rev. Toplady was inspired to write these lyrics when a fierce storm forced him to seek refuge in Burrington Combe gorge in England. A plaque at the gorge commemorates its connection to the famous hymn. Have you ever […]
This beloved hymn written by Major Daniel Webster Whittle, the exact date of his composition is not known, but it was originally published in 1883 in Gospel Hymns No. 4. It is one of about two hundred hymns composed by Major Whittle as he was known. It is one of […]
Kristyn shares on their website, the inspiration behind the writing of the hymn. In that backstory, she asks a compelling question: “Can people see the Lordship of Christ in my heart?” That’s a sobering thought. Do the lives we live attract people to Jesus, or do we repel unbelievers? Do the […]
Pastor Dick Mills was proud of his 64-year-old mother, and he had every right to be. In addition to raising 6 children, she was a speaker for women’s groups in churches, and she had written more than 300 songs. Sometimes she could write a song in just a few minutes […]
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” – Revelation 4:8 Holy, Holy, Holy was written by a man who revered God as wholly holy; a man who put such an effort into living for God that it eventually killed him. Reginald Heber […]
Civilla Durfee Martin (1866-1948) was born in Nova Scotia and died in Atlanta, Ga. In “His eye is on the sparrow” (1905), she has provided one of the most influential and often-recorded gospel hymns of the 20th century. Notable versions include recordings by Shirley Ceasar, Marvin Gaye, Kirk Franklin & […]
Russell Kelso Carter (1849-1928) was a star athlete of a military academy and an excellent student academically, who went on to be a successful teacher and coach. He then spent several years as an ordained Methodist minister, after which he went to medical school. He spent the last of his […]
Few Christian songs composed just 20 years ago have had such an immediate impact on congregational singing as Graham Kendrick’s “Shine, Jesus, Shine” (also known as “Lord, the light of your love is shining”). Graham Kendrick (b. 1950), a native of Blisworth, Northamptonshire, England, now resides in Kent. The son […]
It’s 1865, Elvina Hall sits in the Monument Street Methodist Church choir, in Baltimore, Maryland. Pastor George Shrick is preaching on the subject of the crucifixion. During the sermon, Elvina is wrapped up in the message and becomes inspired to write some words about the crucifixion in the flyleaf of […]
Sometimes hymn singing invites us to connect with the saints who have gone before. Such is the case with the famous Irish hymn, “Be Thou my vision.” The original poem, found in two Irish manuscripts in the library of the Royal Irish Academy, may be dated as early as the […]
Chris Tomlin (b. 1972) is a currently living and active worship songwriter and leader. His impact on today’s church has been enormous. In 2006, TIME magazine reported that he was “the most often sung contemporary artist in U.S. congregations every week.” The previous year, 2005, he had won the first […]