Phoebe Palmer Knapp
O.K., who is Phoebe Palmer Knapp? Today marks her birthday. She was born in 1839 and she published more than 500 hymns in the 69 years she lived.
Phoebe Knapp was a Methodist hymn writer and composer of music. Born in New York city, her parents were Walter C. Palmer and Phoebe Worrall Palmer. She married Joseph Fairfield Knapp, one of the founders and the second president of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
She and her husband were members of the John Street Methodist Episcopal Church in New York City. The hymn writer Fanny Crosby was also a member of that church and a friend of Palmer’s.
She wrote over 500 hymn tunes, the most familiar being “Blessed Assurance” for Fanny Crosby’s hymn. Another hymn by Fanny Crosby for which Knapp wrote the music is “Nearer the Cross.” Other hymn tunes by Knapp include the tune for “Jesus Christ is Passing By” by J. Denham Smith, which is called “Albertson” and the one for “My Spirit Soul and Body” by Mary D. James, which is called “Consecration.” She also wrote sacred choral and solo works, perhaps the best known of which is the Palm Sunday aria “Open the Gates of the Temple.”
Phoebe Knapp is another great example of a Christian using their God-given talents. Her works will be a testimony to her faithfulness and labors throughout our history on this earth, and I dare say her music may be a hit in the eternal realms. It is good for us to run the race and work hard for the Kingdom of God. You will build eternal treasures.