Hymn History: My Faith Looks Up to Thee & Author: Ray Palmer “He wrote the lines of verse as what he called his ‘Self-Consecration,’ simply putting down how he felt, ‘with a deep consciousness of my own needs, without the slightest thought of writing for another eye.’” (Robert Cottrill)   The Origin of the Hymn “My Faith Looks Up to Read more...

Hymn History: More Love to Thee & Author: Elizabeth Payson Prentiss “There is no wilderness so dreary but that His love can illuminate it, no desolation so desolate but that He can sweeten it. I know what I am saying. It is no delusion. I believe the highest, purest happiness is known only to those who have learned Christ in Read more...

Hymn History: Jesus, Refuge of My Soul & Author: Pauline Gilmour Hatch “Among her best and most popular compositions are Volunteers, to the Front, Our Dearly Loved Banner, Jesus, Refuge of My Soul and Peace Hymn of Nations — all of which show talent of a high order, coupled with thorough scholarship.” (A. J. Showalter)   The Origin of Pauline Read more...

Hymn History: Jesus Paid It All & Author: Elvina Mable Hall “Elvina Mable Hall is remembered for one hymn, ‘I hear the Savior say.'” (The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology) The Origin of the Hymn “Jesus Paid It All” Few hymns capture the profound simplicity of the gospel as memorably as “Jesus Paid It All.” Its message of atonement and complete Read more...

Hymn History: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear & Author: Edmund Hamilton Sears “How sweeps the song of solemn joy O’er Judah’s sacred hills! “Glory to God!” The sounding skies Loud with their anthems ring; ‘Peace on the earth; good-will to men, From heaven’s eternal King!’” (Edmund Hamilton Sears)   The Origin of the Hymn “It Came Upon the Midnight Read more...

Hymn History: Face to Face & Author: Carrie Elizabeth Ellis Breck “I penciled verse under all sorts of conditions—over a mending basket, with a baby in arms, and sometimes even when sweeping or washing dishes, my mind moved to meter.” (Carrie Elizabeth Ellis Breck)   The Origin of Carrie Breck’s Hymn “Face to Face with Christ, My Savior” Hymns about Read more...

Arranger of many songs in Great Hymns of the Faith, music editor for Singspiration, and composer of the tune behind 1 O Breath of life, come sweeping through us, revive your church with life and pow’r; O Breath of Life, come, cleanse, renew us, and fit your church to meet this hour. 2 O Wind of God, come bend us, break Read more...

From Reformation Routes: With is mighty belfry, St. Andrew´s Church rises above the market square in a most impressive manner. It is not only a dominating feature in urban development, but it also belongs to the most significant Luther places in general. In the late Gothic pulpit, preserved almost unchanged, the Reformer gave the last sermons of his life. Martin Read more...

From Wikipedia: Her father sent five-year-old von Bora to a Benedictine convent in Brehna in 1504 to be educated, according to a letter Laurentius Zoch sent to Martin Luther in 1531.[10] At the age of nine, she was moved to Nimbschen Abbey, Cistercian community named Marienthron (‘Mary’s Throne’) near Grimma, where her maternal aunt was a nun.[11] Von Bora’s presence is in the financial accounts of 1509/10.[12] After years of being a Read more...

Thanks to Sarah (friend of the site) for finding this and noting the Wikipedia article: On 6 September 1762 John Wesley came to Gwennap and attracted a great crowd of copper tin miners. Unfortunately the day was very windy and Wesley could not make himself heard. Someone suggested the shelter of Gwennap Pit, about 1.5 miles away, so the whole Read more...

Approximate location Also recognized by Taubergassen Road in Vienna From BackToLuther: After such a long struggle God wanted to reveal his glory and Tauber’s faith. Once again the tyrants tried to persuade him to revoke.  Many men and a great crowd gathered, eager to all learn if he would recant. But the pious Christian was not weaker but stronger and Read more...

Among the many plaques commemorating great Americans, we find: John Winthrop 1588 – 1649 In the early autumn of 1630, Winthrop and his company landed at the foot of Prince Street from Charlestown. Thus was begun the settlement of Boston. The spirit of Winthrop is forever a challenge to America: “To avoid shipwreck and provide for our posterity, we must Read more...

Wikipedia: St. Stephan’s Gate, the Christian name of one of the city gates of the Old City of Jerusalem, also known as the “Lions’ Gate“. A post-Byzantine tradition holds that Stephen’s stoning occurred there, while an older tradition connects the martyrdom to the Damascus Gate, where a church and large monastic complex dedicated to Saint Stephen was built in the 5th century (see above). A modern Read more...

This marker commemorates the French Huguenot landing near this site on May 1, 1562, and their lives as colonists on the land until 1565. Hoping to escape religious persecution in Western Europe, the Huguenots set sail to this un-colonized portion of the New World, establishing La Caroline in June of 1564. Between May 1562 and September 1565, the Huguenots shaped Read more...

From ProtestantAlliance: Statute “De Haeretico Coniburendo”, the “Act for the burning of Heretics” passed in late 1400 or January 1401 was soon implemented – designed to suppress the Lollards, those godly followers of the teachings of John Wycliffe. The Act soon claimed its first victim, William Sawtrey. He was burnt at Smithfield on 26th February 1401. Just how horrific the Read more...