Who Wrote the Old-Time Gospel Hymn? Quiz

Answer: John Newton

'Amazing Grace', arguably the most popular Gospel hymn of all time, was written by John Newton in 1779. Tens of millions of people around the world are familiar with the hymn even if they have never stepped inside a church.

Newton was a libertine who served as a ship captain transporting slaves from Africa to where ever there was demand for his commodity. He turned his life around completely, however, when he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ and became an Anglican rector. In his later years, Newton worked as an abolitionist to end slavery in Great Britain.

Answer: Fanny Crosby

Fanny Crosby was the undisputed queen of the hymn writers. She is credited with writing more than six thousand hymns even though she was blind from early infancy. Some historians, however, believe Crosby wrote considerably more than six thousand hymns as she often wrote hymns under a nom de plume. Legend has it publishers requested she write hymns under pen names to prevent the appearance she wrote the vast majority of the hymns in their hymn books.

She was born in Brewster, New York, in 1820.

Answer: George Bennard

The ever popular hymn 'The Old Rugged Cross' was written by George Bennard in 1912, two years before the start of the First World War. Bennard was a native of Youngstown, Ohio.

According to various Websites, Billy Sunday helped popularize the hymn by making it a feature of his evangelistic crusades. Homer Rodeheaver and Virginia Asher, two members of the Billy Sunday team, are believed to have been the first to record 'The Old Rugged Cross' in 1921.

Answer: Sarah Flower Adams

Sarah Flower Adams wrote 'Nearer, My God, to Thee' in 1841. The Website Sharefaith.com states Adams was inspired to write the classic hymn after the pastor of a church told her he was working on a message about Jacob seeing angels ascending and descending a ladder to heaven at Bethel, as per Genesis 28:11-19. The pastor went on to explain to Adams he couldn't find a suitable hymn for the congregation to sing in conjunction with his message, so Adams volunteered to write 'Nearer, My God, to Thee'. The rest, as they say, is history.

And no, there is no connection between the hymn writer and Grizzly Adams.

Answer: Charlotte Elliott

Charlotte Elliott wrote the classic hymn 'Just As I am' in 1835 while William B. Bradbury composed the music. 'Just As I am' has been a mainstay at crusades of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

According to various Websites, Elliott was reluctant to become a follower of Christ and often told her Christian friends she would make a commitment only when the time was right. Her thinking was changed during a conversation with Dr. Cesar Milan, a prominent minister at the time in Switzerland.

The Swiss pastor told Elliott she didn't need to make any changes in her life before becoming a Christian and told her to "come just as you are." The changes, he said, would come later. As a result of Milan's advice, Elliott became an evangelical Christian and later wrote the words to 'Just As I Am'.

(Incidentally, Charlottetown is the capital of Prince Edward Island.)

Answer: Elisha Hoffman

Elisha Hoffman, the son of an evangelical pastor, is the correct answer. Born in 1839 in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, Hoffman wrote the words to 'Are You Washed in the Blood?' and composed the music in 1878.

Hoffman is credited with writing more than two thousand, including 'Leaning On the Everlasting Arms', 'Down At the Cross Where My Savior Died', 'What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine', 'I Must Tell Jesus' and 'Is Your All on the Altar?'

Answer: Johnson Oatman Jr.

Johnson Oatman Jr. wrote 'Count Your Blessings' in 1897 with Edwin Excell composing the music. Oatman was born in Medord, New Jersey in 1856. Hymnary.org, Oatman was born in 1856 in Medford, New Jersey. He was one of the premier hymn writers of his day, writing more than five thousand Gospel songs, a number of which remain popular today. According to Gaffneyledger.com, Oatman sold the rights to each hymn for only one dollar, refusing to accept any higher amounts from publishers.

'Count Your Blessings' is based on Proverbs 10:6.the head of the righteous."

Some other popular hymns by Oatman are 'I'm Pressing on the Upward Way' and 'There's Not a Friend Like the Lowly Jesus'.

Oatman's first name, of course, is the same as the surname of American president Lyndon Johnson.

Answer: Reginald Heber

Reginald Heber, a missionary to India, wrote 'Holy, Holy, Holy!' in 1826. Shortly after writing the classic hymn, Heber, the bishop of Calcutta, died at the age of 42. In addition to 'Holy, Holy, Holy', Heber is credited with writing fifty-seven hymns, many of which are still in use today. He was born in Malpas, Che­shire, Eng­land in 1783.

(For the record, Reginald Hill, is a prolific author of crime novels, including 'Good Morning, Midnight')

Answer: Anthony J. Showalter

Anthony J. Showalter, with the assistance of Elisha Hoffman'Leaning, wrote the ever-popular hymn 'Leaning on the Everlasting Arms' in 1887. Showalter, a native of Cherry Grove, Virginia, also composed the music.

'Leaning on the Everlasting Arms' is featured prominently in the score of Night of the Hunter and forms about a quarter of the score of the 2010 film True Grit. Many people enjoy the hymn because of its catchy tune.

(The man who has served as manager of of the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks is Buck Showalter.)

Answer: Augustus Toplady

The ever popular hymn 'Rock of Ages' was written by Augustus Toplady in 1763. Various Websites report Toplady was inspired to write the hymn when he was in the Mendip Hills in England and was forced to take refuge in a gap in a rockface during a severe rainstorm.

Toplady, who never married, died of tuberculosis on August 11, 1778.