Frances
Jane Crosby
"Fanny
Crosby"
Born: March 24, 1820, Putnam County, New
York.
Died: February 12, 1915,
Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Buried: Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Fanny
Crosby was probably the most prolific hymnist in history. Though blinded by an
incompetent doctor at six weeks of age, she wrote over 8,000 hymns. About her
blindness, she said:
It seemed intended by
the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank
him for the dispensation. 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.
In
her lifetime, Fanny Crosby was one of the best known women in the United States.
To this day, the vast majority of American hymnals contain her work.
When she died, her tombstone carried the words, “Aunt
Fanny” and “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh, what a foretaste of glory
divine.” Eliza Hewitt memorialized Fanny’s passing in a poem:
Away to the
country of sunshine and song,
Our songbird has taken her flight,
And she who has sung in the darkness so long
Now sings in the beautiful light.
Pseudonyms she used are:
- Adrienne, Cora
- Alstyne, Fannie Jane
- Andrews, A. E.
- Apple, James
- Armstrong, Alice
- Atherton, Rose
- Bell, Carrie
- Bethune, Catherine
- Black, James
- Black, James L.
- Black, James M.
- Blair, Henrietta
- Booth, Florence
- Bruce, Charles
- Bruce, Robert
- Burns, Charles
- Carlston, Mary
- Carlton, Leah
- Church, Fannie
- Craddock, Eleanor
- Culyer, Lyman G.
- Dale, Ella
- Dayton, Flora
- D. D.
- D. D. R.
- Dykes, Ryan A.
- Dykes, Rian A.
- Eliot, James
- Edmonds, Lizzie
- Edwards, Lizzie
- F. A. N.
- F. J. C.
- F. J. V. A.
- Fannie
- Fanny
- Forrest, Mrs. Edna
- Frances, Carrie
- Frances, Grace J.
- Frances, Lillian G.
- Frances, S. Trevor
- Frances, Victoria
- Garnet, Jenny
- Glen, Jenie
- Gould, Frank
- Grinley, Mrs. Kate
- G. W. W.
- Harmon, Ruth
- Hawthorn, Carrie
- Hope, Frances
- Hops, Frances
- James, Annie
- James, Mary
- James, Sarah
- J. F. O.
- J. W. W.
- Judson, Myra
- Lankton, Martha
- Lincoln, H. N.
- Lindsay, W. Robert
- L. L. A.
- Lowry, Minnie B.
- Marion, Maude
- Martin, S
- Martin, Sallie
- Martin, Sam
- Miller, Laura
- Montieth, A
- Montieth, Alice
- Park, Edna L.
- Prentice, Mrs. L.C.
- Smiling, Mrs. Kate
- Smith, Sallie A.
- Smith, Sallie E.
- Smith, Sally
- Smith, Sam
- Sterling, J. L.
- Sterling, Julia
- Sterling, Ryan
- Sterling, Victoria
- Stewart, Victoria
- Taylor, Ida Scott
- The Children’s
Friend
- Tilden, Louise W.
- Tilden, Mary
- V., Jenny
- Van A., Mrs.
- Van Alstyne, Fannie
- Van Alstyne, Fannie
Jane
- Van Alstyne, Mrs.
- Van Alstyne, Mrs.
Alexander
- Viola
- Wallace, Zemira
- Wilson, Carrie
- Wilson, Mrs. C. M.
- ## [yes, she
sometimes used these marks instead of a name!]
- ###
- ‘*’
- ***
Her hymns include:
Hymns
- Able to Deliver
- After the Mist and Shadow
- All the Way My Savior Leads Me
- Army of Endeavor
- As the Bird Flies Home
- At the Breaking of the Day
- At the Cross There's Room
- Awake! Awake!
- Awake! Awake! O Heart of Mine!
- Awake! For the Trumpet is Sounding!
- Away! Away!
- Beautiful Vale of Rest
- Beautiful Witness
- Behold Me Standing at the Door
- Behold the Wondrous Love
- Bless This Hour of Prayer
- Blessed are They that Believe
- Blessed Assurance
- Blessed Bible
- Blessed Cross of Jesus
- Blessed Feast, The
- Blessed Homeland
- Blessed Redeemer
- Blest, Blest Forever
- Blind Bartimeus
- Blood Washed Throng, The
- Break Forth, O Joyful Heart
- Bright Forever, The
- By and By
- By the Grace of God We'll Meet
- Calling for You
- Children May Be
Heralds
- Children Sing
- Choose Ye Today
- Christ Is Risen!
- Christ the Lord Is
King
- Christian Brother,
O'er the Main
- Christian Flag, The
- Church of Christ, O
Sleep No More
- City of Gold
- Cleansing Fountain,
The
- Close Thy Heart No
More
- Close to Thee
- Come Again
- Come Boldly to the
Throne of Grace
- Come, Come Away!
- Come, Great
Deliverer, Come!
- Come in, O Blessed
One
- Come, Oh Come, with
Thy Broken Heart
- Come to the Fountain
- Come unto Me, Ye
Weary
- Come with Rejoicing
- Coming Today
- Conquering Now and
Still to Conquer
- Cry from Macedonia,
A
- Dark Is the Night
- Day-Star Hath Risen,
The
- Dear Jesus, Canst
Thou Help Me?
- Don't Forget the
Sabbath
- Eternity
- Everlasting Hills,
The
- Fairer Than the
Morning
- Faith in Jesus
- Falter Not
- Few More Marchings
Weary, A
- Gathering Out of
Tears
- Glad Tidings
- Gladly We Will Go
- Glory Ever Be to
Jesus
- Glory to God,
Hallelujah
- Glory to God in the
Highest
- Go and Work!
- Go Work in the
Vineyard
- God of Our Strength,
Enthroned Above
- God So Loved the
World
- God's Holy Church
Shall Triumph
- Good-night Till We
Met in the Morning
- Great Jehovah,
Mighty Lord
- Greatness of His
Mercy, The
- Guiding Hand, The
- Hand in Hand
- Handful of Leaves, A
- Hark! There Comes a
Whisper
- He Feedeth His Flock
- He Hideth My Soul
- He Is All in All to
Me
- He Is Coming
- Healing at the
Fountain
- Hear and Answer
Prayer
- Hear, and Live!
- Hear My Call
- Hear Us, O Savior!
- Heavenly Father, We
Beseech Thee
- Here from the World
We Turn
- Hide Me
- Hide Thou Me
- His Love Passeth
Knowledge
- His Words Are True
- Hold Fast
- Hold Thou My Hand
- Holy, Holy, Holy Is
the Lord
- How Can We Forget
Him?
- How Oft in Holy
Converse
- How Oft We Are There
- How Sweet the Hour
- I Am So Glad That
Jesus Came
- I Am Thine, O Lord
- I Have Entered
Beulah Land
- I Live but in Thee
- I Will Not Be Long!
- I'll Bear It, Lord,
for Thee
- In a Lowly Manger
Sleeping
- In Bethany
- In the Twinkling of
an Eye
- Is It There?
- Jesus Is Passing
This Way
- Jesus Is Tenderly
Calling You Home
- Jesus, My All
- Jesus, My Only Hope
- Jesus, Savior, We
Implore Thee
- Jesus Will Welcome
Me There
- Joyfully Sing
- Just a Word for
Jesus
- Keep on Watching
- Keep Thou Me
- Keep Thou My Way
- King is Coming, The
- Laurels, Fresh
Laurels
- Lay It Down
- Let Me Lean on Thee
- Let the Light Stream
In
- Let Us Sing Again
- Lights of Home, The
- Like a Wayward Child
I Wandered
- Like as a Father
- Lion of Juday, The
- Lo! The Golden
Fields are Smiling
- Look Up! Ye Weary
Ones
- Lord, Abide with Me
- Lord, Here I Am
- Lord in Zion
Reigneth, The
- Lord is King!, The
- Make Haste!
- Master's Call, The
- Meet Me There
- Message Sweet Is
Borne to Me, A
- More Like Jesus
Would I Be
- Morning Draweth
Nigh, The
- Morning Land, The
- Music of the Angles
- My Savior First of
All
- My Song Shall Be of
Jesus
- Near the Cross
- Nearer the Cross
- Never Give Up
- Never Lose the
Golden Rule
- Never Shone a Light
So Fair!
- No King but Christ
- No Sorrow There
- No Tears in Heaven
- No Voice But Thine
- O Be Saved
- O Blessed Bible
- O Brother, Life’s
Journey Beginning!
- O Child of God
- O Church of God,
Arise!
- O Eden, Dear Eden
- O Fly to Him
- O My Savior, Hear Me
- O Precious Word
- O Spirit, Come
- O to Abide in Jesus
- Oh, How Sweet When
We Mingle
- Oh, Sing of My
Redeemer!
- Oh, to Be Nearer
- Oh, What Are You
Going to Do?
- Oh, Wonderful Word!
- On Let Us Go
- On the Banks Beyond
the River
- Only a Beam of
Sunshine
- Only a Little Way
- Only a Step
- Only Jesus Feels and
Knows
- Only Thy Garment's
Hem
- Only Trust the
Savior's Promise
- Onward, Ye Pilgrims
- Open the Gates of
the Temple
- Opening Hymn
- Our Festive Song
- Out in the Sunshine
- Out of Bondage
- Palace of the King,
The
- Pass Me Not, O
Gentle Savior
- Patriot's Prayer,
The
- Pilgrim's Journey,
The
- Praise Him, Praise
Him
- Praise Our Creator
- Praise, Praise His
Name
- Praise the Lord and
Worship Him
- Praise the Rock of
Our Salvation
- Praise Ye the Lord
- Press On!
- Pure Within
- Rainbow Round the
Throne, The
- Redeemed, and With
the Price of Blood
- Redeemed,
How I Love to Proclaim It!
- Redeeming Grace
- Rescue the Perishing
- Rest at Home
- Rest over Jordan
- Revive Thy Work, O
Lord!
- Rock in the Desert
- Room at the Cross
- Room for the
Penitent
- Sacred Fountain
- Safe in the Arms of
Jesus
- Save Me at the Cross
- Saved by Grace
- Savior, More than
Life
- Savior with Me, The
- Send the Gospel
Light
- Shadow of the Rock,
The
- Shall I be Saved
Tonight?
- Shepherd's Fold on
High, The
- Shout in the Camp, A
- Shouting His Praise
- Showers of Blessing
- Simple, Earnest
Prayer, The
- Sing Once More of
Jesus
- Sing unto God
- Sing with a Tuneful
Spirit
- So Near to the
Kingdom
- Some Sweet Day, By
and By
- Soul Cheering
Promise, The
- Sound the Alarm!
- Speed Away
- Stand by the Right
- Sweet Assurance
- Sweet Story of Jesus
- Take the World, but
Give Me Jesus
- Tell It Out with
Gladness
- Tell Me the Story of
Jesus
- Tenderly He Leads Us
- Tenderly Pleading
- Thanks for the Bible
- There Will I Follow
Thee
- They That Be Wise
- They'll Soon Be O'er
- This I Know!
- This Is Our Endeavor
- This My Plea
- Though Kindred Ties
Around Us
- Though Your Sins Be
as Scarlet
- Through the Valley
of the Shadow
- Thy Hand Upholdeth
Me
- Thy Holy Spirit,
Lord, Alone
- Thy Word Is a Lamp
- 'Tis Summer in My
Heart
- 'Tis the Blessed
Hour of Prayer
- To the Work
- To God Be the Glory
- Too Late
- Tread Softly
- Tried and True
- Trust in the Promise
- Trusting Jesus
- 'Twill All Be Right
at Last
- Unsearchable Riches
- Wait on the Lord
- Waiting for the
Promise
- Waiting for Thy
Coming
- Walking in the Good
Old Way
- Watch and Pray
- Water of Life, The
- We All Can Do Good
- We All Can Do
Something for Jesus
- We Are Coming Home
Tonight
- We Are Going. We Are
Going
- We Are Nearing
- We Praise Thee, We
Bless Thee
- We Walk by Faith
- Welcome for Me
- We'll Give Our
Hearts to Jesus
- What a Friend Thou
Art to Me!
- What a Gathering
- When Christ Arose
- When Each Others
Face We See
- When the Dewy Light
Was Fading
- When the King Shall
Come!
- Where is Thy Refuge?
- Why Do the Holy
Angels Sing?
- Whom Have I in
Heaven?
- Will Jesus Find Us
Watching?
- Will the Angels
Come?
- Will You Come?
- Work for Us All
- Year of Precious
Blessings, A
- Yes, There is Pardon
for You