Favorite Hymns About Jesus: “Onward Christian Soldiers” April, 2020
By Sabin Baring Gould
Mr. Baring-Gould wrote “Onward Christian Soldiers” in 1864 for a large Sunday school class to march from their school to the church in another village of Yorkshire, England. He needed a song to sing and march to on the” Whitmonday” holiday.
Mr. Baring-Gould sat up that night to write something himself for the festival. Within about fifteen minutes, “Onward Christian soldiers” was penned with at least six verses. Leaflets were quickly printed and the Sunday school class marched and sang to the church.
From that point on, the popularity of the song traveled to America. Today, we are still stirred by the inspired words of “Onward Christian Soldiers.” We realize afresh the privilege we have in sharing the story of the cross of Calvary!
“Onward, Christian Soldiers,
Marching as to war
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!”
***
- Stories of Popular Hymns, p. 99,100, by K. Blanchard, Zondervan Pub. House, 1939
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St. Petrie Lutheran Church AFLC 