Fanny J. Crosby – American poet, lyricist, abolitionist, mission worker (1820- 1915): Saved by Grace

Some day the silver cord will break,
And I no more as now shall sing;
But oh, the joy when I shall wake
Within the palace of the King!

(Refrain) And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—-Saved by grace;
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—-Saved by grace.

The lyricist who wrote these words to what became one of the most recognized sacred songs ever, Fanny J. Crosby, was a leading writer of gospel hymn texts from the mid-19th. century through the early 20th. century. In addition to the thousands of  hymns that she has written (about eight thousand poems in all), many of which have not been set to music, she has published four volumes of verses. (Hymnology Archive) Saved by Grace was never intended to be published as a song by Crosby.

Fanny Crosby’s Life Story, by Herself (1903)

“It eventually came to public notice by accident. It was during a conference that Fanny attended at Northfield, Massachusetts. During the meeting, the great evangelist, Dwight Moody, asked if Fanny would give a personal testimony to the audience. Not wanting to draw attention to herself, she almost declined, but finally got up to speak. Mrs. Crosby shared, ‘There is one hymn I have written which has never been published. I call it my soul’s poem. Sometimes when I am troubled, I repeat it to myself, for it brings comfort to my heart.’ She then closed her remarks by reciting the words which had never been heard before in public, ‘Saved By Grace’.” (Hymn History: Saved by Grace, May 18, 2022; Micah Hendry)

Did I mention Fanny Crosby was blind from birth? I thought not, but many times throughout her life she said her lack of sight brought her joy and contributed to her ability to write poems, lyrics, two autobiographies. “If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.” (Wikipedia)

When I selected songs from The Baptist Hymnal for worship services in the two churches I served when I came to South Carolina in the early 1970s, many of the songs I chose were written by Fanny J. Crosby. I remember wondering about this woman whose words I sang every Sunday, but those were the times pre-Google and endless rabbit holes. Curiosity didn’t kill this cat who was too lazy to follow up with my own research.

My sacred music memories have dimmed in the fifty years since I served as a minister of music in those two Southern Baptist congregations. Church music was my silver cord that connected me to that spark of divinity within myself, but that cord was shattered by the mendacity of church leaders whose voices drowned out our shared humanity.

Today I salute a woman whose words offered hope for a better hereafter while encouraging help for the here and now through her rescue mission actions, a woman whose life reflected overcoming overwhelming obstacles from the time she was born until her death at age 94.

And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—-Saved by grace.

****************************

Fun fact from a rabbit hole: Bing Crosby was one of her relatives that shared her musical talents. Who knew?