“Jesus, Lover of My Soul”: Charles Wesley’s hymn of refuge in the storm
Charles Wesley published "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" in 1740, two years after his conversion. Its images of a storm, a refuge and a fountain of…
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hymn history
“Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling”: Will Thompson’s invitation hymn
Will Lamartine Thompson, an Ohio songwriter, published "Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling" in 1880. It became one of the most famous invitation hymns, sung at…
“Tell Me the Old, Old Story”: the hymn Katherine Hankey wrote while recovering from illness
Katherine Hankey, an English evangelical and Bible teacher, wrote a long poem about the life of Jesus in 1866 while recovering from a serious illness. Two…
“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”: Robert Robinson’s hymn about a wandering heart
Robert Robinson wrote "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" in 1758, three years after his conversion under the preaching of George Whitefield. Its line about a…
“In Christ Alone”: the 2001 hymn by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
"In Christ Alone", written in 2001 by Northern Irish composer Keith Getty and English songwriter Stuart Townend, became one of the most popular modern hymns in…
“The Church’s One Foundation”: the hymn born from a South African church dispute
Samuel John Stone wrote "The Church's One Foundation" in 1866 in response to the controversy surrounding John William Colenso, Bishop of Natal in South Africa. Sung…
“Jesus Shall Reign”: Isaac Watts’ missionary hymn built on Psalm 72
Isaac Watts published "Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun" in 1719 as a Christian paraphrase of Psalm 72. It became one of the great missionary hymns…
“O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go”: George Matheson’s hymn written in five minutes
The Scottish minister George Matheson, who lost most of his sight as a young man, wrote "O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go" in 1882.…
“There Is a Fountain”: William Cowper’s hymn of hope in the darkness
"There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood" was written by the English poet William Cowper around 1772 and published in the Olney Hymns, his collection with…
“Jesus Paid It All”: the hymn written on the flyleaf of a hymnal during a sermon
Elvina Hall wrote the words of "Jesus Paid It All" in 1865 on the flyleaf of her hymnal during a sermon at a Methodist church in…