The History Behind The Hymns (Part Two)

Rock Of Ages

Augustus Toplady was a young English minister and writer in the 1700s. While traveling through the rugged countryside near Cheddar Gorge, he was surprised by a torrent of hard rain and strong winds. In his weary state, Toplady found shelter under a rocky overhang. There, in the storm he wrote this hymn. He saw his situation as God providing just as He did for the world with the Savior. 

The work was first introduced into the world in 1776, when Toplady included it in an article he edited for The Gospel Magazine. He also compared England's national debt to our own merits satisfying the justice of God in the same article.

Toplady died of tuberculosis at the age of 38, proclaiming "My prayers are now all converted into praise."

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Unlike many other great hymns of the faith, this hymn was not written out of any tragic or dramatic experience, but out of everyday routine. Kentucky-born Thomas Chisholm became a school teacher in 1882, but this was just the start of his several career paths. He later entered the newspaper business before being ordained as a pastor. Health reasons forced him to leave the ministry and after recuperation, he became an insurance agent. 

Throughout his life, however, two things remained consistent: his faith and his love of poetry. In 1923, he sent a collection of his poems to a musician and good friend named William Runyan. Runyan also worked for a hymnal publishing company. William was especially struck by Chisholm's poem, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”. About this experience, he said  "This particular poem held such an appeal that I prayed most earnestly that my tune might carry over its message in a worthy way." 

The hymn took a while to catch on with churches until Billy Graham included it in his crusades in England, but is now one of England's most popular. Based on Lamentations 3:22-23, the poem reflects Chisholm's own need for God's support, love, and faithfulness, both financially and spiritually.

There Is A Fountain

William Cowper suffered from depression and anxiety his entire life, but still found hope in Jesus's sin-cleansing blood. As a young man, he was pressured to go into law, but suffered a mental breakdown before his final exams and was admitted into an asylum. 

In 1764, he realized his need for a savior and wrote this hymn based on Zechariah 13:1. Later in life, he became friends with the great hymn writer, John Newton and together, composed a collection of 349 hymns known as the Olney Hymns. 

The Hymn Project

On July 23, 2020, my dad and I recorded the six hymns I have now highlighted in these two blogs. It features my vocals and guitar and my dad on cajon and is available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

Bibliography 

Christianity.com. 2010. Toplady's Song In The Storm. [online] Available at: <https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1701-1800/topladys-song-in-the-storm-11630289.html> [Accessed 29 August 2020].

Wyse, E., 2014. The History Of "Great Is Thy Faithfulness". [online] Lifeway.com. Available at: <https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/the-history-of-great-is-thy-faithfulness> [Accessed 29 August 2020].

College of The Open Bible. n.d. Hymn History There Is A Fountain. [online] Available at: <https://www.collegeoftheopenbible.com/hymn-history-there-is-a-fountain.html> [Accessed 29 August 2020].

The History Behind The Hymns (Part One)

It Is Well With My Soul

Horatio Spafford Jr. endured great suffering in his life before writing this much loved hymn, sung to Philip Paul Bliss's music. Spafford married Anna Lawson in 1861 before moving near Chicago for his law practices. Both he and his wife were heavily involved in the church and volunteer ministry. They had four daughters.

In 1871, the first tragedy shook Spafford's family and the whole Chicago area with the Great Fire. Horatio himself and his legal partners suffered financially from their real estate investment losses. In November of 1873, the family physician recommended that Anna travel to Europe for her health. Horatio decided to stay behind for an important real estate sale. Five ministers, returning to England, agreed to watch over Spafford's family during the voyage. 

The fateful journey began a little after 2:00 pm on November 15. Aboard the Ville Du Havre, the journey was rough and a heavy fog set in. On the 7th day of their journey, at 2:00 am in the morning, a collision occurred with an iron Scottish Vessel, ripping a hole into the belly of the Ville Du Havre. Lifeboats were jettisoned but later found to be mostly containing the crew, not the passengers. The ship plunged into the water killing 226, including the four young Spafford daughters. Anna, their mother survived, and was there to hear minister Emile Cook say "All is well" before he died, perhaps the inspiration for the first words of Horatio Spafford's hymn. 

Despite suffering much more financially, the Spaffords continued to minister in America and later, Jerusalem. Horatio Spafford wrote the hymn in 1876 and it was first performed at a gospel meeting in Farewell Hall. 

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Written in the 1500's by Martin Luther, it was often referred to as the 'Battle Hymn of the Reformation.' It has been translated into almost every known language and into English in eighty different ways. Luther wrote approximately 35 other hymns when he lived and singing was always an important part of his life as well as playing the lute. He believed that "Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise."

A Mighty Fortress was drawn from the 46th Psalm and was a way for Luther himself, along with other followers of the Reformation, to find hope and comfort in God's strength and will. Sung by exiles leaving their home, martyrs to their death, and Luther, losing the battle for the soul of the church, this hymn had and still has a powerful message. 

The Old Rugged Cross

George Bernard, born in Ohio, became a traveling evangelistic after his conversion at 22 through the ministry of the Salvation Army. After being incessantly heckled by the youth at a Michigan revival meeting in 1912, he was left dejected and hopeless. Bernard remembers recalling in that moment, Christ's own suffering, bearing the cross for the revival of the world. 

The first verse of this much loved hymn came easy to him, and several months later he finished the remaining three verses while leading church meetings, back again in Michigan. In the summer of 1913, he performed the song for the pastor of the church, who, moved to tears, decided to incorporate it into the revival service. 

George himself led the hymn with his voice and guitar and then was joined by a five-voice choir, an organ, and a violin. The church where it was first performed is still standing today, owned by The Old Rugged Cross Foundation, a non-profit that welcomes thousands to this historic spot annually. 

Bibliography

Christianity.com. 2010. Horatio Spafford: It Is Well With My Soul. [online] Available at: <https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1801-1900/horatio-spafford-it-is-well-with-my-soul-11633070.html> [Accessed 29 August 2020].

Christianity.com. 2010. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. [online] Available at: <https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1501-1600/a-mighty-fortress-is-our-god-11629923.html> [Accessed 29 August 2020].

Wyse, E., 2015. The History Behind "The Old Rugged Cross". [online] Lifeway.com. Available at: <https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/the-history-behind-the-old-rugged-cross-hymn-george-bennard-revival> [Accessed 29 August 2020].