Hymn Story Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart Hymn lists by book of Bible George Croly, an Anglican minister from Dublin, went to London as a young man to serve a small congregation.  After serving there for twenty-five years, he was asked to re-open Saint Stephens Church in one of London's worst slums.  He [...]

Hymn Story Take My Life and Let It Be Hymn Lists by book of Bible Frances Havergal (1836-1879) was an unusual woman.  The daughter of a minister, she mastered Greek and Hebrew to read the scriptures in their original languages.  Having grown up in England, she traveled in Europe and enjoyed skiing in the Swiss [...]

Hymn Story Softly and Tenderly Hymn lists by book of Bible Will Lamartine Thompson (1847-1909) was born in Pennsylvania, but his family moved to East Liverpool, Ohio (near the Pennsylvania border) while he was still quite young.  His father was a successful merchant, and also served in the Ohio legislature for a time. Thompson [...]

Hymn Story Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above Hymn lists by book of Bible Martin Luther led the Protestant Reformation in Germany, beginning with the posting of his 95 Theses in 1517.  By the time of his death in 1546, the Lutheran Church in Germany was strong—strong and zealous.  However, as so often happens, [...]

Hymn Story Silent Night Hymn lists by book of Bible There are several variations on the story of the writing of this hymn, but they all center on the little Church of St. Nicholas in Obendorf, a village near Salzburg, Austria, on Christmas Eve, 1818—and they all recount a church organ that wouldn't play and [...]

Hymn Story Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us Hymn lists by book of Bible We don't know who wrote the words to "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us."  It first appeared in a children's hymnal compiled by Dorothy Thrupp in 1836, so some people think that Mrs. Thrupp wrote it—but that is far from certain. [...]

Hymn Story Rock of Ages Hymn lists by book of Bible "Rock of Ages" was written by Augustus Montague Toplady, an Anglican clergyman.  The tune, Toplady, was named in his honor. Toplady's father was a soldier who died in battle while Toplady was a still an infant, so he grew up in the care of [...]