Robert
Lowry was an American professor of literature, a Baptist minister and composer of gospel hymns. He was born in Philadelphia on March 12, 1826 and
studied theology at the University at Lewisburg (now Bucknell University) and on graduating, in 1854, became ordained as a Baptist minister. He had charge of churches in a number of places including the
Bloomingdale Baptist Church in New York; the Hanson Place Baptist Church in Brooklyn; and others in West Chester,
Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Among the churches he pastored in New Jersey was the Park Avenue
Baptist Church. When the Park Avenue Church agreed to merge with the First
Baptist church, Pastor Lowry agreed to resign in order to ensure the success of
the merger.
Lowry was an American professor of literature, a Baptist minister and composer of gospel hymns. He was born in Philadelphia on March 12, 1826 and
studied theology at the University at Lewisburg (now Bucknell University) and on graduating, in 1854, became ordained as a Baptist minister. He had charge of churches in a number of places including the
Bloomingdale Baptist Church in New York; the Hanson Place Baptist Church in Brooklyn; and others in West Chester,
Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Among the churches he pastored in New Jersey was the Park Avenue
Baptist Church. When the Park Avenue Church agreed to merge with the First
Baptist church, Pastor Lowry agreed to resign in order to ensure the success of
the merger.
In 1869
he returned to Lewisburg as a faculty member (having previously served as a
professor of literature) and later went on to become its chancellor. From 1880 until 1886 he was president of the New
Jersey Baptist Sunday School Union. He is most remembered as a composer of gospel music and a hymn writer, and also worked as a music editor at the Biglow
& Main Publishing Company. He was responsible for around 500 compositions,
including “Nothing But the Blood,” “Christ Arose”, “Follow On“, “Shall We Gather At
The River?,”
and “How Can I Keep From
Singing?” He
also wrote the music and refrain for “Marching to Zion”.
he returned to Lewisburg as a faculty member (having previously served as a
professor of literature) and later went on to become its chancellor. From 1880 until 1886 he was president of the New
Jersey Baptist Sunday School Union. He is most remembered as a composer of gospel music and a hymn writer, and also worked as a music editor at the Biglow
& Main Publishing Company. He was responsible for around 500 compositions,
including “Nothing But the Blood,” “Christ Arose”, “Follow On“, “Shall We Gather At
The River?,”
and “How Can I Keep From
Singing?” He
also wrote the music and refrain for “Marching to Zion”.
Despite
his success as a hymn writer, it was as a preacher that Lowry would have
preferred to be recognised. He once stated: “Music, with me has been a
side issue… I would rather preach a gospel sermon to an appreciative audience
than write a hymn. I have always looked upon myself as a preacher and felt a
sort of depreciation when I began to be known more as a composer.” However, it is as a hymn writer that he
remains renowned.
his success as a hymn writer, it was as a preacher that Lowry would have
preferred to be recognised. He once stated: “Music, with me has been a
side issue… I would rather preach a gospel sermon to an appreciative audience
than write a hymn. I have always looked upon myself as a preacher and felt a
sort of depreciation when I began to be known more as a composer.” However, it is as a hymn writer that he
remains renowned.
