Robert Lowry Monument

ROBERT LOWRY
MARCH 12, 1826 – NOVEMBER 25, 1899
BORN IN PHILADELPHIA, ROBERT LOWRY WAS CONVERTED AND RECEIVED INTO THE
MEMBERSHIP OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF THAT CITY AT THE AGE OF SEVENTEEN.
ACTIVE IN VARIOUS AREAS OF SERVICE, HE SOON ACKNOWLEDGED HIS CALL TO THE MINISTRY.
LOWRY ENTERED SCHOOL AT LEWISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA-NOW BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY.
HE GRADUATED IN 1854, VALEDICTORIAN OF HIS CLASS, AND IMMEDIATELY
BEGAN TO LABOUR AS A PASTOR. HIS PASTORATES WERE AS FOLLOWS:
WEST CHESTER BAPTIST CHURCH – PENNSYLVANIA = 1854 – 1858,
BLOOMINGDALE BAPTIST CHURCH – NEW YORK CITY = 1859 – 1861,
HANSON PLACE BAPTIST CHURCH – BROOKLYN 1861 – 1869,
LEWISBURG BAPTIST CHURCH – PENNSYLVANIA 1869 – 1875,
PARK AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH – PLAINFIELD, NJ 1875 – 1884.

LOWRY WAS A SUCCESSFUL AND MUCH LOVED PASTOR. HE POSSESSED A BRILLIANT MIND
AND GREAT KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES, WHICH MADE HIM AN EXCEPTIONAL PREACIER.
HE SAID, “I WOULD RATHER PREACH A GOSPEL SERMON TO AN
APPRECIATIVE AND RECEPTIVE CONGREGATION THAN WRITE A HYMN”.

WITHOUT A DOUBT, LOWRY IS ENTITLED TO THE DOUBLE HONOUR INTENDED FOR THOSE WHO
LABOUR FAITHFULLY IN THE WORD AND DOCTRINE, BUT [T IS HIS CONTRIBUTION TO SACRED MUSIC
THAT WON HIM ENDURING FAME. EARLY IN LIFE, HE EXHIBITED A FONDNESS AND APTITUDE
FOR SONG AND, AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH, HAD GAINED PROMINENCE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
FOR THE MANY HYMNS THAT ISSUED FROM HIS PEN.

ROBERT LOWRY WAS THE AUTHOR OF “SHALL WE GATHER AT THE RIVER”,

“CHRIST AROSE”, AND HIS PERSONAL FAVORITE, “NONE BUT JESUS”.

HE ALSO WROTE “NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS” WHICH IS
REGARDED AS A BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH IN SONG,

WHILE PASTORING IN BROOKLYN, LOWRY WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GATHERING THE
FLAT BUSH MISSION EN 1865. THE MISSION WAS LATER CONSTITUTED AS THE
SIXTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. AMONG THE CONSTITUTING MEMBERS WERE
CHARLES AND ANNIF HAWKS. MRS. HAWKS WROTE THE WELL LOVED HYMN
“I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR” AND LOWRY ADDED THE TUNE.

LOWRY ALSO COMPOSED THE MUSIC FOR GREAT HYMNS SUCH AS:
“SOMETHING FOR THEE”, “WE’RE MARCHING TO ZION”, AND
“ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOUR LEADS ME”.

UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE,

WITH A MIGHTY TRIUMPH O’ER HIS FOES.

HE AROSE A VICTOR FROM THE DARK DOMAIN
AND HE LIVES FOREVER WITH HIS SAINTS TO REIGN.

HE AROSE! HE AROSE!

HALLELUJAH! CHRIST AROSE!

SPEAKING TO YOURSELVES IN PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS,
SINGING AND MAKING MELODY IN YOUR HEART TO THE LORD; – EPHESIANS 3:19
MARKER PLACED BY THE BAPTIST HISTORY PRESERVATION SOCIETY- MAY 16, 2007
Located at the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church – corner of 6 Avenue and Lincoln Place, Brooklyn, NY 13

Featured Image Credit: Robert Lowry | Hymnary.org. hymnary.org/person/Lowry_Robert.