SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER

Born in 1772 and living in Coleshill, Warwickshire, England, William Walford was blind, but this did not make him worthless.  As he sat by the fire in his home, he kept his hands busy, whittling out useful objects and trinkets that he made available in his little shop. 

As a lay preacher, he was called on to preach from time to time in a rural English church.  William composed the sermons in his memory.  He needed to memorize significant amounts of the Bible which he would quote verbatim in his messages.

When being visited by a friend who was native of New York, William told him that he had composed two or three poems in his mind, but did not have someone to write them down for him.  His friend quickly copied the lines on paper and was particularly touched by one on the subject of prayer.  He sent it to the editor of the New York Observer to be inserted in the magazine, if he thought them worthy!

The Observer did think this ‘prayer poem’ was worth preserving and they published it on September 13, 1845.  In 1861, noted American composer William Bradbury composed the tune and the Hymn was added to hymnal collections. 

The hymn continues to touch the lives of thousands who with Walford want to express the genuine joy experienced through prayer.