A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

•
October 25, 2026

1 Minute Read
This is one of the few hymns that we know Martin Luther wrote both the lyrics and melody. It summarizes Luther’s views on church music - the lyrics should preach the Gospel. While some, like Calvin, took this to mean only quotations from the Bible were fit for congregational singing, Luther believed that paraphrases and lyrics whose inspiration is from scripture were acceptable. The inspiration for this hymn was Psalm 46:
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

The melody that Luther wrote was surely included in a hymnal from 1529, but the oldest extant copy dates from 1531. The original rhythm was quite choppy. The more even version we sing dates from the 1700s. This hymn has spread far and wide, including in Bach’s Cantata 80, Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5, and Meyerbeer’s opera Les Huguenots.







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October 25, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
This is one of the few hymns that we know Martin Luther wrote both the lyrics and melody. It summarizes Luther’s views on church music - the lyrics should preach the Gospel. While some, like Calvin, took this to mean only quotations from the Bible were fit for congregational singing, Luther believed that paraphrases and lyrics whose inspiration is from scripture were acceptable. The inspiration for this hymn was Psalm 46: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. The melody that Luther wrote was surely included in a hymnal from 1529, but the oldest extant copy dates from 1531. The original rhythm was quite choppy. The more even version we sing dates from the 1700s. This hymn has spread far and wide, including in Bach’s Cantata 80, Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5, and Meyerbeer’s opera Les Huguenots.
October 25, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Holy God, We Praise Your Name
This hymn first appeared in German as a song-setting of the Te Deum. Its first appearance in English is traced to the Evangelical Hymanl published in New York in 1880. The translator, Clarence Augustus Walworth went on to compose additional verses. It was paired with the tune GROSSER GOTT, which is an anonymous melody first appearing in Germany in the 18th century.
October 25, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Lyrics for this classic are by Issac Watts, a prolific hymn writer. His first hymn was the result of a complaint he made about the quality of existing hymns. He was told to write something better, so he did. His first collection of hymns was published in 1707 and he continued writing until he was paralyzed by a stroke in 1739. His other well-known hymns include Joy to the World, Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun, and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. The tune, ST ANNE, was included anonymously in a 1708 hymnal published in London, although it was attributed to William Croft in other places. The opening phrase was common in the Baroque period, including as theme to J.S. Bach’s Fugue in Eb.
October 18, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Earth and All Stars
Important answer for a future trivia night – this is our organist’s favorite hymn. It was written for the 90th anniversary of St. Olaf College. The words are by Herbert Brokering, a P.K. (Pastor’s Kid) born in Nebraska and went on to become a pastor himself. He passed away in 2009. The tune is by David Johnson, a prolific composer, organist, and professor of music at Arizona State. The hymn first appeared in Twelve Folksongs and Spirituals in 1968.
October 18, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!
This text first appeared in A Selection of Psalms and Hymns for the Parish Church of Banbury in 1826. Hymnist Reginald Heber was a well-known poet and ordained vicar. In 1823 he became bishop of Calcutta. The tune, NICAEA (appropriately named for its oft-pairing with this trinitarian text) dates its first appearance to 1861’s Hymns Ancient and Modern. Composer John Bacchus Dykes began playing organ at 10 and himself went on to become an ordained vicar in Durham.
October 18, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
The inspiration for this hymn comes from 1 Timothy 1:17: “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Its author, Walter Chalmers Smith, was an ordained minister of the Free Church of Scotland. This text first appeared in his Hymns of Christ and the Christian Life in 1867. The tune, ST DENIO, is a traditional Welsh melody. It comes from the long tradition of using secular melodies for sacred hymns. The first known published version comes from the hymnal Caniadau y Cyssegr in 1839.
October 11, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Rejoice, for Christ is King!
The tune first appeared in 1899 in a Lutheran hymnal published in Philadelphia. William Fischer was born in Germany and moved to Pennsylvania where he graduated from the seminary at Gettysburg. The text is by prolific hymnist Charles Wesley and was originally published in 1744.
October 11, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Thomas Andrew Dorsey (no relation to the trombonist/bandleader) was born near Atlanta, GA but moved to Chicago during the Roaring 20s. This hymn is based on the tune MAITLAND and was a reaction to the death of his wife in delivery and his newborn child the following day.
October 11, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
While the words are attributed to Londoner Dorothy Ann Thrupp, in her Hymns for the Young in 1836, it was listed as anonymous. The tune is by New Englander William Bradbury and first appeared in 1859.
October 4, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
God of Our Fathers
This hymn was first heard at a July 4th celebration in 1876. It was originally performed to the tune Russian Hymn. It was later linked with the more appropriately named National Hymn. The lyrics are by Daniel Crane Roberts, a Civil War vet who went on to become an Anglican deacon. The music is by George William Warren, organist at St Thomas’ Church in NYC.
October 4, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Another hymn from Issac Watts which first appeared in 1707. The tune, Hamburg, is by the “father of American church music,” Lowell Mason. He was also a central figure in the music education movement in the US.
October 4, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Jesus Shall Reign
The words are a paraphrase of Psalm 72 and written by prolific English hymn writer and congregational minister Issac Watts (1674-1748). The tune is attributed to John Hatton of whom not much is known save the date of his funeral in 1793.