Sweet Hour of Prayer

Attributed to William W. Walford; music William B. Bradbury · 1845 · tune SWEET HOUR
Key of G · public domain

Words

Verse 1Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer
That calls me from a world of care
And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known
In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer

Verse 2Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer
The joys I feel, the bliss I share
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Saviour shows His face
And gladly take my station there
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer

Verse 3Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless
And since He bids me seek His face
Believe His Word and trust His grace
I'll cast on Him my every care
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer

The story

The words first appeared in the New York Observer in 1845, sent in by a minister named Thomas Salmon, who said he had taken them down from a blind lay preacher in Coleshill, England, named William Walford. That story is the one usually printed. Hymn scholars have never been able to confirm it. Census and parish work has ruled out the usual candidate, and the honest position is that the author is still unidentified. What is not in doubt is the hymn. It is built on Matthew 6, going to a particular place at a particular time to pray, and the last verse looks past prayer altogether to the point where faith gives way to sight. William Bradbury's tune first appears in his Anthem Book of 1860, and was paired with these words the following year.

Chords in G

Verse 1 G C G Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer G D G That calls me from a world of care G C G And bids me at my Father's throne G D G Make all my wants and wishes known G C G In seasons of distress and grief G D G My soul has often found relief G C G And oft escaped the tempter's snare G D G By thy return, sweet hour of prayer Verse 2 G C G Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer G D G The joys I feel, the bliss I share G C G Of those whose anxious spirits burn G D G With strong desires for thy return G C G With such I hasten to the place G D G Where God my Saviour shows His face G C G And gladly take my station there G D G And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer Verse 3 G C G Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer G D G Thy wings shall my petition bear G C G To Him whose truth and faithfulness G D G Engage the waiting soul to bless G C G And since He bids me seek His face G D G Believe His Word and trust His grace G C G I'll cast on Him my every care G D G And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer

In the app you can move this to any key and it works out the capo for you.

Common questions

Who wrote Sweet Hour of Prayer? Attributed to William W. Walford; music William B. Bradbury wrote the words in 1845.

What tune is it sung to? SWEET HOUR, set here in the key of G.

What scripture is it built on? Matthew 6:6.

Is Sweet Hour of Prayer free to use in church? Yes. The words are public domain, which means any church may sing them, print them in a bulletin, put them on a screen or record them, without asking permission and without paying anyone.

Themes

Prayer · Rest · Devotion

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