The Christian Writer

Spreading God’s Truth to the World One Story at a Time

Category: Hymn Case Studies

  • And Can it Be?

    “And Can it Be?” was written by Charles Wesley in 1738. There are several different tunes used for this song, but the most well-known is probably SAGINA, written by Thomas Cambell.

  • Amazing Grace

    “Amazing Grace” is one of the most popular hymns to ever be written. If you ask even a non-religious person to name a hymn, it will most likely be “Amazing Grace”. Written by John Newton in 1773, the hymn was put to a popular tune by William Walker in 1835. A final verse was also…

  • 10 Obscure Christmas Hymns

    As I sat down to write this post, I knew I wanted to write about a Christmas hymn. But the fact is, there are just too many of them to choose from. So, I decided to provide a list of some obscure Christmas hymns, and I also want to give you all an opportunity to…

  • At the Cross

    The hymn, “At the Cross” was written by Isaac Watts in, and a refrain and tune were added in 1885 by Ralph Hudson. The words are also used in the hymn “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed,” though without the chorus.

  • He Who Would Valiant Be

    The hymn “He Who Would Valiant Be,” (also known as “To Be A Pilgrim”) was written by John Bunyan in 1684. John Bunyan is most well-known for his allegory, “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” which has influenced many people over the years. The original words to “He Who Would Valiant Be” were found in Part 2 of…

  • Something for Thee

    “Something for Thee” (also sometimes called “Something for Jesus”) is a hymn that you may have never heard of. Written by Sylvanus D. Phelps in 1862, its tune was composed by Robert Lowry, who wrote tunes to several renowned hymns.

  • It is Well With My Soul

    “It is Well With My Soul” is a hymn that has been well-known and beloved for many years. In fact, it’s one of my personal favorites (though I do have quite a few “personal favorites”). The lyrics were written by Horatio G. Spafford, and the music was composed by Philip Bliss.

  • My Savior

    The hymn, “My Savior,” (also known as “I Am Not Skilled to Understand) was written by Dora Greenwell, an English poet who lived from 1821-1882. The lyrics were set to music by William J. Kirkpatrick, a more well-known name among hymn writers and composers.