My Starred Hymns
My FlexScores
My Hymnals
My Purchased Files
Planning worship?
Check out our sister site, ZeteoSearch.org,
for 20+ additional resources related to your search.
- |
User Links
Person Results
James McGranahan
1840 - 1907 Composer of "FAITH" in The Cyber Hymnal James McGranahan USA 1840-1907. Born at West Fallowfield, PA, uncle of Hugh McGranahan, and son of a farmer, he farmed during boyhood. Due to his love of music his father let him attend singing school, where he learned to play the bass viol. At age 19 he organized his first singing class and soon became a popular teacher in his area of the state. He became a noted musician and hymns composer. His father was reluctant to let him pursue this career, but he soon made enough money doing it that he was able to hire a replacement farmhand to help his father while he studied music. His father, a wise man, soon realized how his son was being used by God to win souls through his music. He entered the Normal Music School at Genesco, NY, under William B Bradbury in 1861-62. He met Miss Addie Vickery there. They married in 1863, and were very close to each other their whole marriage, but had no children. She was also a musician and hymnwriter in her own right. For a time he held a postmaster’s job in Rome, PA. In 1875 he worked for three years as a teacher and director at Dr. Root’s Normal Music Institute. He because well-known and successful as a result, and his work attracted much attention. He had a rare tenor voice, and was told he should train for the operatic stage. It was a dazzling prospect, but his friend, Philip Bliss, who had given his wondrous voice to the service of song for Christ for more than a decade, urged him to do the same. Preparing to go on a Christmas vacation with his wife, Bliss wrote McGranahan a letter about it, which McGranahan discussed with his friend Major Whittle. Those two met in person for the first time at Ashtubula, OH, both trying to retrieve the bodies of the Bliss’s, who died in a bridge-failed train wreck. Whittle thought upon meeting McGranahan, that here is the man Bliss has chosen to replace him in evangelism. The men returned to Chicago together and prayed about the matter. McGranahan gave up his post office job and the world gained a sweet gospel singer/composer as a result. McGranahan and his wife, and Major Whittle worked together for 11 years evangelizing in the U.S., Great Britain, and Ireland. They made two visits to the United Kingdom, in 1880 and 1883, the latter associated with Dwight Moody and Ira Sankey evangelistic work. McGranahan pioneered use of the male choir in gospel song. While holding meetings in Worcester, MA, he found himself with a choir of only male voices. Resourcefully, he quickly adapted the music to those voices and continued with the meetings. The music was powerful and started what is known as male choir and quartet music. Music he published included: “The choice”, “Harvest of song”, “Gospel Choir”,, “Gospel hymns #3,#4, #5, #6” (with Sankey and Stebbins), “Songs of the gospel”, and “Male chorus book”. The latter three were issued in England. In 1887 McGranahan’s health compelled him to give up active work in evangelism. He then built a beautiful home, Maplehurst, among friends at Kinsman, OH, and settled down to the composition of music, which would become an extension of his evangelistic work. Though his health limited his hours, of productivity, some of his best hymns were written during these days. McGranahan was a most lovable, gentle, modest, unassuming, gentleman, and a refined and cultured Christian. He loved good fellowship, and often treated guests to the most delightful social feast. He died of diabetes at Kinsman, OH, and went home to be with his Savior.
John Perry
James McGranahan
Maria Grace Saffery
1773 - 1858 Person Name: Maria G. Saffery Author of "Judah Restored" in The Cyber Hymnal Saffery, Maria Grace, née Horsey [sic. Andrews], born in 1773, and died March, 1858, was daughter of the Rev. J. Horsey, [sic. She was not the daughter of J. Horsey. J. Horsey was a friend of her husband's] of Portsea, and wife of the Rev. Mr. Saffery, pastor of the Baptist Church at Salisbury. Early in life she published a short poem and a romance, and in 1834, a volume entitled Poems on Sacred Subjects (London, Hamilton, Adams & Co.). Mrs. Saffery was a gifted and accomplished woman. At the suggestion of her husband, and of her son, the Rev. P. J. Saffery, she wrote many hymns for special occasions. She contributed ten to Dr. Leifchild's collection, and others to the Baptist Magazine and other periodicals. Some time before 1818 she wrote a hymn on Holy Baptism, "Tis the Great Father we adore," which was printed in the Baptist New Selection, 1828, has since appeared in most Baptist hymnbooks, and is now in common use; and sometimes as, “’Tis God the Father we adore." Her hymn of a Mother for her Child, "Fain, O my babe, I'd have thee know," is in the Comprehensive Rippon, 1844. Her Evening hymn, "God of the sunlight hours, how sad," from her Poems, &c, 1834, p. 183, and her Good Shepherd, “There is a little lonely fold," from the same, p. 172, are also in common use. [Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907), corrections provided by Serena McLaren, Maria Saffery's 3rd Great Granddaughter
Maria Grace Saffery
John Charles Ryle
1816 - 1900 Person Name: John C. Ryle Author of "Faith Is A Very Simple Thing" in The Cyber Hymnal
John Charles Ryle
