Match the Writer With the Gospel Hymn Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 'Blessed Assurance' (Written by blind woman who wrote as many as 9,000 hymns)

Answer: Fanny Crosby

Fanny Crosby wrote an estimated 9,000 hymns but there is no way of knowing for certain as she wrote under a long list of pen names. Legend has it publishers of hymn books did not want it to appear the majority of songs in a hymnal were written by the same author so they asked prolific writers like Crosby to write under noms de plume.

Crosby was blind from early infancy and died in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1915. The words 'Blessed Assurance', the title of one of Crosby's most popular hymns, appear on her tombstone.

2. 'Amazing Grace' (Written by a former slave trader who became an Anglican priest)

Answer: John Newton

John Newton was a notorious sea captain who spent a number of years transporting slaves from Africa to the United States. Legend states his ship became caught up in a ferocious storm and was in grave danger of sinking when Newton pledged to become a Christian if he survived the ordeal.

Newton went on to become an Anglican priest and wrote the words to 'Amazing Grace' in 1772. The hymn is regarded by many as the greatest hymn of all time.

3. 'The Wonder of It All' (Written by a singer with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)

Answer: George Beverly Shea

Canadian-born George Beverly Shea served as the featured soloist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for more than five decades. When it comes to cumulative audiences, Shea performed before more people than any other musician. It would not be uncommon for him to perform for six or seven nights in a row to crowds of 50,000 people only to move on to do the same at another city hosting a Billy Graham crusade.

In addition to writing the words to 'The Wonder of It All', Shea also composed the music to the old-time hymn 'I'd Rather Have Jesus'.

4. 'And Can It Be?' (Written by English evangelist in 1738, younger brother of John)

Answer: Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley is credited with writing more than 6,000 hymns with 'And Can It Be?' regarded as one of his greatest. In the hymn, Wesley tells of coming to have a personal relationship with the Lord and how his life was dramatically changed after his conversion.

His older brother John was the founder of Methodism and also wrote a number of hymns.

The Wesleys were born in Epworth, United Kingdom.

5. 'The Old Rugged Cross' (Written by an American evangelist and hymn writer)

Answer: George Bennard

George Bennard penned the words to 'The Old Rugged Cross' in 1912. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1873 and served as an evangelist in the Great Lake states and southern Ontario.

'The Old Rugged Cross' has been recorded by a number of Gospel and country singers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson, Johnny Cash, Eddy Arnold, and Jim Reeves.

6. 'Leaning on the Everlasting Arms' (Written by man who wrote more than 2,000 hymns)

Answer: Elisha Hoffman

Elisha Hoffman was a preacher and hymn writer who was born in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1839.

He is credited with writing 2,000 hymns, including 'I Must Tell Jesus', 'Are You Washed in the Blood?' and 'What a Wonderful Saviour!'

To be fair, Anthony Showater, a music teacher in Dalton, Georgia, wrote a partial rough draft of 'Leaning on the Everlasting Arms' and then called on his good friend Hoffman to refine the lyrics and compose the music for the ever popular hymn.

7. 'Jesus Loves Me' (Written by woman with the intention the words would be featured in a book and not a hymn.)

Answer: Anna Warner

Anna Waarner wrote the words to 'Jesus Loves Me' in 1860 to be part of a novel her sister Susan was writing. Susan's novel, 'Say and Seal', tells of a Sunday School teacher, comforting his dying student Johnny Fox by reading the words to 'Jesus Loves Me'.

However, a couple years later, William Bradbury, a noted Gospel music composer, stumbled across the words to 'Jesus Loves Me'. Almost instantly Bradbury realized 'Jesus Loves Me' had tremendous potential as a hymn. So he added a chorus to Anna's words and set them to music.

The rest, as they say, is history.

8. 'Send the Fire' (Written by founder of the Salvation Army)

Answer: William Booth

'Send the Fire' was written in 1894 by William Booth, the dynamic founder of the Salvation Army. Booth was born in England in 1829 and devoted his life to preaching the Gospel message to the destitute, the downtrodden and the alcohol besotted underclass.

The Salvation Army grew into a global church that now has presence in more than 130 countries.

9. 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross' (Written by a man considered as the father of English hymnody)

Answer: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts is regarded as the father of hymnnody. He was born in 1674 in Southampton, the United Kingdom, and is credited with writing 750 hymns.

In addition to 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross', Watt wrote 'Joy to the World' and 'O God, Our Help in Ages Past'.

On top of being a preacher, Watt also wrote a number of books on topics ranging from astronomy to grammar.

10. 'How Great Thou Art' (Originally written by a Swedish preacher)

Answer: Carl Boberg

Stuart K. Hine is credited with writing the English version of the old-time Gospel hymn 'How Great Thou Art'. However, the original version was written by Carl Boberg, a Swedish preacher and politician. The original version was titled 'O Store Gud', which translates as 'O Great God'.

Boberg wrote the words to the famous hymn in 1885. In 1949, Hine wrote his version of the hymn and titled it 'How Great Thou Art'.

Source: Author Cowrofl

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Questions		Choices
1. 'Blessed Assurance' (Written by blind woman who wrote as many as 9,000 hymns)		Fanny Crosby
2. 'Amazing Grace' (Written by a former slave trader who became an Anglican priest)		Carl Boberg
3. 'The Wonder of It All' (Written by a singer with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)		William Booth
4. 'And Can It Be?' (Written by English evangelist in 1738, younger brother of John)		George Bennard
5. 'The Old Rugged Cross' (Written by an American evangelist and hymn writer)		Isaac Watts
6. 'Leaning on the Everlasting Arms' (Written by man who wrote more than 2,000 hymns)		Elisha Hoffman
7. 'Jesus Loves Me' (Written by woman with the intention the words would be featured in a book and not a hymn.)		George Beverly Shea
8. 'Send the Fire' (Written by founder of the Salvation Army)		Anna Warner
9. 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross' (Written by a man considered as the father of English hymnody)		Charles Wesley
10. 'How Great Thou Art' (Originally written by a Swedish preacher)		John Newton

In this quiz I give you the titles of ten old-time Gospel hymns. Your task is to correctly connect the writers with their hymns. Hints are given along the way.