I Will Sing the Wondrous Story

Heather Allington

Heather writes for Sunday Song Book on behalf of the The Salvation Army Oshawa. As a lifelong member of the Army, she has loved these familiar - and some less familiar - songs for many years, and enjoys researching and writing about their origins. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and retired elementary school teacher who likes trying her hand at watercolour painting and poetry writing.

I will sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me –
How He left His Home in Glory,
For the cross on Calvary.

Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me;
Sing it with the saints in Glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.

I was lost, but Jesus found me,
Found the sheep that went astray,
Threw His loving arms around me,
Drew me back into His way.

I was bruised, but Jesus healed me;
Faint was I from many a fall;
Sight was gone and fears possessed me,
But He freed me from them all.

Days of darkness still come o’er me;
Sorrow’s path I often tread,
But the Saviour still is with me –
By His hand I’m safely led.

“Sing of your Redeemer – and be kind to His creatures!” That was the unusual motto of Francis Rowley, a pastor and animal lover. He was born in Hilton, New York in 1854, and by age 24 was an ordained pastor, looking after churches in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Illinois, at various times. During Rowley’s ministry in North Adams, Massachusetts, a young Swiss musician named Peter Billhorn approached him to suggest Rowley write a hymn for which he, Billhorn, would compose music.This was done so quickly that the song was used the following evening in a revival meeting. Rowley said that it “came to me without any particular effort on my part.”

In 1910, Francis Rowley left the pastorate and followed his other passion – animal welfare, becoming president of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He held that position until the age of ninety-one, but still worked on as chairman of the board! Rowley’s work led to the purchase of the first motorized horse ambulance, as well as the establishment of a permanent animal shelter to care for retired police horses. He also helped set up the first “Be Kind to Animals” week in the U.S., and led in the formation of a club to encourage young people to protect animals, called The Jack London Club . Truly, Francis Rowley believed in doing his part to help God the Creator to care for His creatures.