Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Album: Hosanna (1923)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Thomas Chisholm (1866 –1960) was an American teacher who had a Christian conversion experience at the age of 27 during a Dr. Henry Clay Morrison led revival. He served as a Methodist minister for a time before resigning due to poor health.
  • Chisholm wrote over 1,200 sacred poems and songs over his lifetime including this one in which he pays tribute to the blessing God has bestowed on him. The phrase "great is thy faithfulness" comes from the Old Testament Book of Lamentations 3:23:

    The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
    His mercies never come to an end
    They are new every morning
    Great is your faithfulness
  • Thomas Chisholm wrote the words in 1923. He sent them to his friend William Ruyan, another Methodist minister, who set it to music. It was published that same year by Hope Publishing Company and was soon being sung in churches. It also became a popular hymn at Christian weddings.

    The hymn was exposed to international audiences after being used frequently by Billy Graham during his crusades.
  • Kentucky native Jordan Smith gave a moving rendition of the hymn as part of the live playoffs for the top twelve contestants on the NBC singing competition show The Voice. Smith started singing the tune a cappella before picking up the melody on the piano and accompanying himself through the remainder of the sacred song.

    His rendition, which was transmitted on November 16, 2015, just a few days after the Paris bombings, received a standing ovation. Enough downloads were made in the week after the show to take Smith's performance of the hymn into the Top 30 of the Hot 100.
  • Country star Josh Turner covered this for his 2018 gospel album, I Serve A Savior. "I just made a few minor tweaks to that song lyrically and made it my own and that's a song that I've been familiar with pretty much my whole life growing up in church and singing that song," he told Billboard.
  • For her 2021 gospel album, My Savior, Carrie Underwood recorded a duet version with the gospel star CeCe Winans. The country star's rendition earned her a second GMA Dove Award, taking the 2021 Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year prize. Underwood's previous Dove win was in 2006, for her "Jesus, Take The Wheel" single.

    Winans won four GMA Dove Awards during the ceremony, including Gospel Artist of the Year.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.