Can You Match the Writers With Their Hymns? Quiz

Answer: John Newton

'Amazing Grace', arguably the most popular Gospel hymn in the world, was written by John Newton, a former slave trader and libertine, in 1779. Newton is credited with writing an estimated 280 hymns, but none of them come close to the popularity of 'Amazing Grace'. The hymn has been sung by everyone from Elvis Presley to Barack Obama at a memorial service in 2015 for victims of a racially inspired shooting rampage in Charleston, South Carolina.

After surrendering his life to Christ, Newton would go on to become an evangelical Anglican priest in 1764 and play a key role with William Wilberforce in the English abolitionist movement to abolish the slave trade.

Here are the words to the Gospel classic 'Amazing Grace'.

"Amazing grace how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
was blind but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!

The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
bright shining as the sun,
we've no less days to sing God's praise
than when we'd first begun."

Answer: Fanny Crosby

The hymn 'Blessed Assurance' was written by Fanny Crosby in 1873 and the hymn remains popular with Christians around the world. Crosby was blind but that didn't slow her down when it came to writing Gospel hymns.

Wikipedia credits her with writing 8,000 hymns but some Websites suggest she actually wrote as many as 9,000 as a number of her hymns were published under pseudonyms. Legend has it, publishers of hymn books insisted Crosby use pseudonyms because if she didn't it would appear as if she wrote the vast majority of the songs in any given hymnal. She is known as the Queen of Hymn Writers.

Here are the words to the classic hymn 'Blessed Assurance'.

"Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long."

Answer: Char­lotte El­li­ott

Charlotte Elliott wrote the Gospel classic 'Just As I Am' in 1835. The Website Cyberhymnal.org reports the lyrics first appeared in the publication "The Christ­ian Re­mem­branc­er" with Elliott becoming its editor in 1836.

Elliott had considered for some time about becoming a Christian, but she always declined to go forward, thinking she somehow didn't measure up. Her doubts, however, disappeared forever when she met Dr. Cesar Milan, a noted minister from Switzerland. Milan told her all she needed to do to become a Christian was "come just as you are." His advice resulted in Elliott surrendering her life to Jesus Christ on that day. She would later write the classic hymn 'Just As I Am'.

Incidentally, the capital of Prince Edward Island, Canada's smallest province, is Charlottetown.

Here are the words to the old-time classic hymn:

"Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, tho' tossed about
With many many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind:
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am -- Thy love unknown
Hath broken ev'ry barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come."

Answer: George Bennard

George Bennard, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, wrote 'The Old Rugged Cross' in 1912. According to Wikipedia, the hymn was popularized during Billy Sunday evangelistic campaigns by two members of his campaign staff, Homer Rodeheaver and Virginia Asher. It is believed Rodeheaver and Asher were the first to record 'The Old Rugged Cross' in 1921.

Making the hymn different is the fact it tells of the writer's Christian experience rather than his love of Jesus Christ. Bennard retired to Reed City, Michigan, and the city maintains a museum dedicated to his life and ministry.

Incidentally, three American presidents have shared the first name George. They are George Washington, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.

Here are the words to 'The Old Rugged Cross'.

"On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff'ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

Refrain:

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

Refrain:

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He'll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I'll share.

Refrain:"

Answer: George Beverly Shea

Canada's George Beverly Shea wrote the words and composed the music for 'The Wonder of It All' in 1956. He was born in Winchester, Ontario, in 1909 and died in Montreat, North Carolina, in 2013. He joined the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in 1947 and served as a noted singer for more than six decades. Shea received a whopping ten nominations for Grammy Awards during his lifetime and is noted in the Guinness Book of Records as performing live for more people over the years than any other musician.

Here are the words to 'The Wonder of It All':

"There's the wonder of sunset at evening,
The wonder as sunrise I see;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is the wonder that God loves me.

Refrain:
O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!
Just to think that God loves me.
O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!
Just to think that God loves me.

There's the wonder of springtime and harvest,
The sky, the stars, the sun;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is a wonder that has only begun.

(Refrain)"

Answer: Sabine Baring-Gould

'Onward Christian Soldiers' is popular with Christians around the world and the Salvation Army is noted for using it in parades and street crusades. The words were written in England by Sabine Baring-Gould in 1865, and the music was composed by Arthur Sullivan in 1871.

"The lyric was written as a processional hymn for children walking from Horbury Bridge, where Baring-Gould was curate, to Horbury St Peter's Church near Wakefield, Yorkshire, at Whitsuntide in 1865," Wikipedia reports. "It was originally entitled, 'Hymn for Procession with Cross and Banners'." According to Wikipedia, Baring-Gould wrote the world-famous hymn in about fifteen minutes.

Sabine was the name given to a tribe of people who lived in ancient Italy before the founding of Rome.

Here are the words to 'Onward Christian Soldiers'.

"Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

Refrain

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Refrain

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Refrain

What the saints established that I hold for true.
What the saints believèd, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.

Refrain

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail.

Refrain

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Refrain"

Answer: Carl Gustav Boberg

'How Great Thou Art' is based on a Swedish traditional melody written by Carl Gustav Boberg (1859-1940) in 1885. The hymn was first translated into German and then into Russian. "It was translated into English from the Russian version by British missionary Stuart K. Hine, who also added two original verses of his own," Wikipedia states.

'How Great Thou Art' quickly became popular around the world after it was performed by the likes of George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows during the Billy Graham crusades. 'How Great Thou Art' was voted the Number One hymn in the United Kingdom by the British Broadcasting Corporation's Song of Praise.

Here are the words to classic hymn 'How Great Thou Art':

"O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Refrain:
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Refrain

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Refrain

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Refrain

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: 'My God, how great Thou art!'

Refrain"

Answer: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts, known as the Father of Hymnody, wrote 'At the Cross', also known as 'Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed', more than three hundred years ago. The hymn remains incredibly popular today.

The Website UnlockingtheBible,org has a list of the 25 top Christian songs of all time and 'At the Cross' is placed at Number 18. Meanwhile, Hymnary.org reports Watts had a totally different name for the classic hymn "Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed'. The Website states his original heading for the text was 'Godly Sorrow Arising from the Suffering of Christ'.

Here are the words to the classic hymn 'At the Cross', also known as 'Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed'.

"Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sov'reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

Refrain:
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine --
And bathed in its own blood --
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His soul in anguish stood.

Refrain:

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Refrain:

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature's sin.

Refrain:

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.

Refrain:

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
'Tis all that I can do.

Refrain:"

Answer: Horatio Spafford

'It Is Well', sometimes referred to as 'It Is Well With My Soul', was written by Horatio Spafford and was first published in 1876. Spafford wrote 'It Is Well' after some "traumatic events" in his life.

Spafford was ruined financially when the Great Chicago Fire razed his property in 1871; two years later four of his daughters died in a shipwreck while crossing the Atlantic. 'It Is Well' has been recorded by numerous musicians, ranging from Tennessee Ernie Ford to Amy Grant.

Here are the words to the hymn 'It is Well'.

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain:

My sin -- oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! --
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain:

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain:

But, Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

Refrain:

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:"

Answer: Bill Gaither

'He Touched Me' was written by Bill Gaither in 1964. Gaither was performing with Dr. Dale Oldham on his evangelistic crusades when the idea for 'He Touched Me' was born.

Oldham told Gaither the word 'touch' is used often in Scripture with people being healed with Christ simply touching them and that he should write a song with that theme. "That week, Dr. Oldham's son Doug Oldham began singing it in the meetings," Wikipedia reports. "Doug was also the first to record the song (in 1964). Not long after that, the Bill Gaither Trio recorded it."

Here are the words to 'He Touched Me':

"Shackled by a heavy burden,
'Neath a load of guilt and shame.
Then the hand of Jesus touched me,
And now I am no longer the same.

He touched me, Oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole.

Since I met this blessed Savior,
Since He cleansed and made me whole,
I will never cease to praise Him,
I'll shout it while eternity rolls.

He touched me, Oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole."