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4 Comments

  1. haleyg
    10 September 2009 @ 10:41 am

    thanks for the comment on my blog! i didn’t even know that “how great Thou art” was written by a sweedish guy. i have a sweedish ancestory. 🙂 that’s cool.

    • rcottrill
      10 September 2009 @ 12:07 pm

      Yes, it is a Swedish hymn. It’s surprising how many think it’s a fairly new English hymn, dating from the early part of the 20th century.

  2. readywriterpublications
    10 September 2010 @ 4:02 am

    Thanks for today’s mention of Joseph Scriven and for reminding me of pleasant memories associated with this hymn. He was born at Banbridge, Co. Down, very close to where I lived as a child in Northern Ireland – I’ve referred to him in “Singing on the Journey Home.” Last year while my husband and I were on the island of Crete, one Sunday morning we heard beautiful singing coming from a basement on the street where we were walking. We discovered that it was the congregation of the International Church of Chania – singing “What a Friend we Have in Jesus” – in English. It really warmed my heart to hear them – and naturally we joined with them in worship that Sunday morning.

    • rcottrill
      10 September 2010 @ 9:23 am

      What a lovely story. And thanks for the Ireland connection of Mr. Scriven. My wife and I have stood before the memorial in Port Hope, and thought about this humble man who has made such an impact all over the world, by God’s grace. Speaking of which, have you ever clicked on the little “Visitor information” map on my blog. (From there you can also click on continent by continent maps.) I’m utterly amazed at how folks all over the world come to call, sometimes from remote towns, or tiny islands in the midst of the sea. There are hymn lovers everywhere, as your story illustrates. 🙂