Philip P. Bliss
1838–1876
Gospel Songwriter & Composer
Writer and composer of enduring evangelical hymns and the tune for ‘It Is Well with My Soul’
Biography
Philip Paul Bliss was an American hymn writer, composer, singer, and conductor whose work became central to nineteenth-century evangelical song. He wrote or composed many beloved hymns, including ‘Hallelujah, What a Saviour!,’ ‘Wonderful Words of Life,’ and the tune for Horatio Spafford’s ‘It Is Well with My Soul.’ Bliss was also closely associated with the evangelistic ministry of D. L. Moody.
Faith & Testimony
Bliss’s public ministry and body of work are explicitly Christian and evangelistic. He wrote gospel hymns, sang for evangelical ministry, and moved in the orbit of major revival-era Christian leaders. That makes him a clear fit for SDG as an obvious historical hymn writer and composer.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Philip Bliss — Documents Bliss’s hymn writing, Christian ministry associations, and composition of major gospel songs