Thomas Chisholm (songwriter)

The Reverend

Thomas Chisholm

Born|

Thomas Obadiah Chisholm

(1866-07-29)July 29, 1866

Near Franklin, Kentucky, US

Died| February 29, 1960(1960-02-29) (aged 93)

Ocean Grove, New Jersey, US

Other names| T. O. Chisholm[1]
Occupations|

* Hymnwriter
* poet
* minister

Ecclesiastical career
Religion| Christianity (Methodist)
Church| Methodist Episcopal Church, South
Ordained| 1903
Writing career
Genres|

* Christian hymnody
* Christian poetry
* gospel music

Notable works|

* "Living for Jesus" (1917)[2]
* "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" (1923)[3]

Thomas Obadiah Chisholm[a] (1866–1960) was an American hymnwriter, poet, and Methodist minister.

Chisholm was born on July 29, 1866, in a log cabin near Franklin, Kentucky.[4] He became a teacher at the age of 16.[5] Circa 1893, aged 27, Chisholm had a Christian conversion experience during a revival in Franklin led by Henry Clay Morrison.[6] Following his ordination in 1903,[7] served as a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for one year before resigning due to poor health.[8] After 1909 Chisholm began working as a life insurance agent in Winona Lake and later in Vineland, New Jersey.[5]

Chisholm wrote over 1,200 sacred poems over his lifetime, many of which appeared in various Christian periodicals, and he served as an editor of The Pentecostal Herald in Louisville for a period.[9] In 1923, Chisholm wrote the poem "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" which he submitted to William M. Runyan who was affiliated with the Moody Bible Institute and Runyan set the song to music.[10] He also wrote the lyrics "Living for Jesus", composed by C. Harold Lowden.[7] Towards the end of his life, Chisholm retired to the Methodist Home for the Aged in Ocean Grove, New Jersey.[5] He died on February 29, 1960, in Ocean Grove.[4]

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ Pronounced /ˈtʃɪzəm/.

## References[edit]

### Footnotes[edit]

1. ^ Gabriel 1916, p. 76.
2. ^ Osbeck 1985, pp. 178–179.
3. ^ Reynolds 1976, pp. 80–81.
4. ^ a b Reynolds 1976, p. 281.
5. ^ a b c Osbeck 1982, p. 84.
6. ^ Osbeck 1982, p. 84; Reynolds 1976, p. 281.
7. ^ a b Osbeck 1985, p. 178.
8. ^ Gabriel 1916, p. 76; Osbeck 1982, p. 84; Reynolds 1976, p. 281.
9. ^ Osbeck 1982, p. 84; Osbeck 1999, p. 15; Reynolds 1976, p. 281.
10. ^ Osbeck 1982, pp. 84–85; Osbeck 1999, p. 15.

### Bibliography[edit]

* Gabriel, Chas H. (1916). The Singers and Their Songs: Sketches of Living Gospel Hymn Writers. Chicago: Rodeheaver Company. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
* Osbeck, Kenneth W. (1982). 101 Hymn Stories. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications. ISBN 978-0-8254-3416-7. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
* ——— (1985). 101 More Hymn Stories. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications. ISBN 978-0-8254-3420-4. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
* ——— (1999). Amazing Grace: Illustrated Stories of Favorite Hymns. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications. ISBN 978-0-8254-3433-4. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
* Reynolds, William J. (1976). Companion to "Baptist Hymnal". Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman Press. ISBN 978-0-8054-6808-3. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

## Further reading[edit]

* "Rev. Thomas Chisholm, 93, Dies; Wrote 1,200 Protestant Hymns". The New York Times. March 2, 1960. p. 37.

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