“I Will Sing of My Redeemer”: A Hymn History 

In just a few short weeks we will be celebrating the death, burial, and glorious resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! The greatest story ever told is of Jesus Christ taking my sin and your sin upon Himself. He died a cruel and gruesome death on the cross so that we could live eternally with Him. He redeemed my soul and He redeemed your soul. Because of our redemption, we have a song to sing!

The Hymn

Phillip P. Bliss penned the following words:

I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross He suffered,
From the curse to set me free.

Refrain:
Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer,
With His blood He purchased me;
On the cross He sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt, and made me free.

I will tell the wondrous story,
How my lost estate to save,
In His boundless love and mercy,
He the ransom freely gave.

I will praise my dear Redeemer,
His triumphant pow’r I’ll tell,
How the victory He giveth
Over sin, and death, and hell.

I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His heav’nly love to me;
He from death to life hath brought me,
Son of God with Him to be.

“My Redeemer” is a hymn praising our Savior for laying down His life on Calvary. The words and music of this song were written by two men who loved their Redeemer and loved to sing of Him. Their lives were dedicated to serving the Lord and bringing others to Him through their music.

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The Hymnwriter

To sing of his Redeemer was the great passion of P.P. Bliss, the author of these words. Bliss contributed greatly to the hymn heritage of our country. He is the author and composer of many well known hymns including “Hold the Fort,” “Wonderful Words of Life,”  “Hallelujah, What a Savior,” “Jesus Loves Even Me,” and “Dare to Be a Daniel.” Bliss also composed the music for the beloved hymn, “It is Well with My Soul.”

His Early Life

Philip Paul Bliss was born on July 9, 1838 in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. Bliss spent most of his childhood years on the frontier of western Pennsylvania. Since the Bliss family moved from place to place in sparsely settled regions, Philip had little opportunity for schooling. He learned the love of singing early in life from his father, who loved to sing aloud. Young Philip would often whistle and sing the same tunes, and occasionally “played” them on homemade instruments.

In 1849 at the age of eleven, Philip left home to work on a farm to help ease the burden of the family. After several years of working on the farm, he left to work at a lumber camp as an assistant cook and a lumber jack. During these years, his desire for learning was constantly growing. He used every opportunity he could to increase his knowledge.  In 1850, while Bliss was attending school at Elk Run, a Baptist minister conducted a revival among the students. It was during this revival that Bliss made his profession of faith in Christ. A short time later, a minister of the Christian Church baptized Bliss in a creek near his home.

His Career

Bliss began teaching, in 1856, at a school in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. Although he was only 18 and had had little education, the school board saw more importantly “his character and seriousness of purpose” (1). Two years later, while teaching at an academy in Rome, Pennsylvania, he met the O. F. Young family. He quickly developed a close relationship with the Youngs and was counted as a member of their family. At the Young’s invitation, Bliss moved into their home along with his younger sister. He soon fell in love with the their oldest daughter, Lucy. On June 1, 1859, they were married in the home of a local minister.

Some of Bliss’s earliest musical instruction was received from Professor J. G. Towner. Bliss also attended the William Bradbury music convention in Rome, Pennsylvania. While studying in Rome, Bliss met another of Towner’s students, James McGranahan. McGranahan was two years younger than Bliss and was also born in Pennsylvania. McGranahan had developed an early love for music, but was discouraged by his father saying that he was needed on the farm. Finally, at the age of seventeen, James hired a man to take his place and moved into town so he could work and study music. Bliss and McGranahan remained close friends until the time of Bliss’s death in 1876.

A Turning Point

A turning point came in Bliss’s life when he met the great evangelist D. L. Moody. One Sunday evening, while Bliss and his wife were out walking, they heard Moody preaching in the open air from the steps of a courthouse in Chicago. After preaching for about thirty minutes, Moody invited the crowd to come inside for the service. That evening, Moody’s normal music director was absent. From the congregation, Bliss’s strong, confident voice caught Moody’s attention. After the service Moody met Bliss and his wife Lucy at the door. Later Bliss wrote, “as I came to him he had my name and history in about two minutes, and a promise that when I was in Chicago [on] Sunday evenings, I would come and help in the singing at the theater meetings” (1). This was the beginning of a life long friendship of Moody and Bliss.

“Following their initial meeting, in 1869, Moody never ceased urging Bliss to full-time service of the Lord” (1). It was Moody’s desire that Bliss and Major Daniel Whittle, a former soldier in the civil war, should be doing the same thing that he and Sankey were doing – preaching and singing the Gospel as a team. Bliss and Whittle took the challenge very seriously and after much prayer they embarked on a trip to find the will of God.

A New Journey

“Bliss wrote in his diary, ‘Today Whittle and I embark on a new journey in which I pray God will direct my every action and thought’” (2). Together they led a series of meetings in several cities in Illinois. It was during these meetings that both Bliss and Whittle felt God calling them to full time evangelistic work. During a prayer meeting, in a pastor’s home, they both dedicated themselves and their talents to the Lord, to be used for His glory. “From that solemn time of dedication the Gospel team of Whittle and Bliss embarked on a journey of service which would be blessed by God in a marvelous way” (2). Bliss and Whittle returned home, resigned their jobs and began traveling together. For a number of years, until the death of Bliss, they held meetings across the country, in a total of twenty-five cities.

Their last series of meetings were held in Peoria, Illinois, in 1876. Whittle later said of these meetings, “Had we known that the separation was so near, we would not have planned for ourselves, for the fullest enjoyment of the few days remaining, as our heavenly Father planned for us. In no place were the dear brothers of the ministry more cordial and kind in their welcome and fellowship…I never before witnessed my partner so effective and inspired. His songs were sermons that went deep into the hearts and souls of all those present. I will never forget it! I cannot forget it. It was God’s visitation upon us as His spirit worked among us. It was a real touch of revival and we were sorry the meetings had to end” (2).

A Tragic Accident

At the close of the meetings, Bliss headed to Pennsylvania to spend Christmas with his family. His plans were to return to Chicago after Christmas to conduct more meetings with Whittle and Moody; these plans however, were never realized. Several days after Christmas, Bliss left by train for Chicago, along with his wife Lucy. As they were crossing a ravine near Ashtabula, Ohio, the bridge gave way and the train fell over 80 feet. Bliss survived the fall and managed to escape from the wreck, but returned in an attempt to rescue his wife. Unfortunately, his attempt failed and both he and his wife perished in the blazing flames.

“In reporting the tragedy the Chicago Tribune wrote, ‘The disaster was dramatically complete. No element of horror was wanting. First, the crash of the bridge, the agonizing moments of icy riverbed; then the fire which came to devour all that had been left alive by the crash; then the water, which gurgled up from under the broken ice and offered another form of death, and finally, which froze and benumbed those who had escaped water and fire. It was an ideal tragedy’” (2). The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Bliss were never identified and were buried along with the other bodies in a communal grave, at a local cemetery.

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The Composer

A Divine Meeting 

It was here at the sight of the accident, while trying to identify the bodies, that Major Whittle and James McGranahan met for the first time. Bliss had often talked to Whittle about his good friend McGranahan and how he desired that he would commit his life to full time service for the Lord. “The Major immediately challenged McGranahan to be the gospel musician God could use to replace Philip Bliss. Before leaving the sight of the accident together, they found Bliss’s trunk undamaged containing the text for ‘My Redeemer,’ which Bliss had evidently been working on during the trip” (3).  The two returned to Chicago together and before reaching the city, “James McGranahan had decided to yield his life, his talents, his all to the service of His Savior” (4).

The Composing of the Tune

Sometime after returning to Chicago, McGranahan composed the music for “My Redeemer.” “The hymn had a great spiritual impact when it was first introduced to a large tabernacle audience in Chicago as Major Whittle related how the text had been found among Bliss’ belongings. He told how James McGranahan had composed the music for this text and how that this musician would now continue the work begun by Bliss” (3).

McGranahan continued to work with Whittle for about ten years until his health broke. He settled in Kinsman, Ohio where he continued writing until his death on July 7, 1907. During his lifetime McGranahan composed music for a number of hymns including “I Know Whom I Have Believed,” “The Banner of the Cross,” and “Showers of Blessing.”  He was also involved with publishing “Gospel Hymns Vols. 3-6” and “Sacred Songs” along with George Stebbins and Ira Sankey.

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Conclusion

Although Philip Bliss and James McGranahan are no longer living, their lives live on through the music they wrote. Both of these men had great talent and made great contributions to American hymnody. Instead of seeking worldly fame, they showed who was first place in their hearts, by dedicating their lives, to sing of their Redeemer.

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1. Corts, Thomas E.  Blessed Bliss.  www.wholesomewords.org
2. Smith, Al.  The Music Men of Rome.  Greenville, South Carolina: Al Smith Ministries, 1997.
3. Osbeck, Kenneth W.  101 Hymn Stories.  Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel, 1982.
4. Doonan, Gladys.  To Reap For the Master. Schaumburg, Illinois: Regular Baptist Press, 1986.

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