I Will Sing Of My Redeemer

Philip P. Bliss (1838–1876), the beloved gospel songwriter, tragically lost his life at just 38 years old in the Ashtabula train disaster of 1876. While returning to Chicago from visiting his childhood home in Pennsylvania, the bridge beneath his train collapsed near Ashtabula, Ohio, sending the cars plummeting sixty feet into a ravine. The wreckage caught fire, claiming nearly 100 lives. Bliss initially survived the fall and escaped through a window—but when he realized his wife was still trapped inside, he rushed back into the flames in a desperate attempt to save her. Both perished in the blaze.

Among Bliss’s recovered belongings was an unpublished hymn manuscript, later set to music by his friend James McGranahan (1840–1907). McGranahan, grieving the loss of his collaborator, composed the tune shortly after the accident while in Chicago, where he was being considered to succeed Bliss as the song leader for evangelist Major D. W. Whittle’s campaigns. When the hymn was first introduced at a Chicago tabernacle meeting, Whittle shared the poignant story of its discovery, stirring the audience with its message of Christ’s redemption.

The hymn, based on Titus 2:14—"Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works"—was published in 1877 in Welcome Tidings, a Sunday school hymnal edited by Robert Lowry, William H. Doane, and Ira D. Sankey. Its triumphant lyrics and McGranahan’s soaring melody reinforced Bliss’s legacy as a writer who fused theological depth with emotional resonance.

The Legacy of the Writers

Philip Bliss left an indelible mark on gospel music despite his short life. Among his other enduring hymns are:

• "Hold the Fort"

• "I Gave My Life for Thee"

• "It Is Well With My Soul" (popularized by his friend Horatio Spafford after the Ashtabula tragedy)

• "Jesus Loves Even Me"

• "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning"

• "Once for All"

James McGranahan, a gifted composer and singer, went on to become a key figure in 19th-century evangelical music, succeeding Bliss in Whittle’s ministry. His other notable works include "I’ll Stand By Until the Morning."

The hymn’s enduring power lies in its celebration of Christ’s sacrifice and the believer’s call to live as "a peculiar people"—set apart for God’s purposes. Bliss’s sudden death and McGranahan’s faithful continuation of his work add a layer of historical and spiritual significance, making it a testament to both divine redemption and human devotion.