"I Love to Tell the Story" is a well-known

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hy ...

which was written as a poem by an English

evangelist Evangelist may refer to: Religion * Four Evangelists, the authors of the canonical Christian Gospels * Evangelism, publicly preaching the Gospel with the intention of spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ * Evangelist (Anglican Church), a c ...

, Katherine Hankey. It was set to music by William G. Fischer. Hankey had a serious spell of sickness while on a mission in Africa. During her long days of convalescence, she wrote a long on the life of Jesus in 1866 in two parts. The first part was a poem of fifty stanzas, titled "The Story Wanted" (dated 29 January 1866) and second part titled "The Story Told" (dated 18 November 1866).Cyberhymnal: "I Love to Tell the Story"
/ref> Certain verses were taken from Part I. by Dr. W. H. Doane in 1867 to make the popular and familiar hymn beginning, " Tell me the old, old story". From Part II. certain verses were selected to make the hymn, "I Love to Tell the Story". The tune was composed by William G. Fischer, a professor of music at Girard College, Philadelphia, PA and appeared in Fischer's ''Joyful Songs'', Nos. 1 to 3 published in 1869 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Methodist Episcopal Book Room. The refrain used was :"I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory, :To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

In recordings

Henry Burr Henry Burr (January 15, 1882 – April 6, 1941) was a Canadian singer, radio performer and producer. He was born Harry Haley McClaskey and used Henry Burr as one of his many pseudonyms, in addition to Irving Gillette, Henry Gillette, Alfred Alex ...

recorded it for Angelophone Records ''(pictured)'' *Country singer Alan Jackson included it in his 2006 Gospel album '' Precious Memories''. *Christian singer

Mark Lowry Mark Alan Lowry (born June 24, 1958) is an American singer, comedian, minister and songwriter. He is best known for co-writing the song " Mary, Did You Know?" and being a member of the Gaither Vocal Band from 1988 to 2001, and 2009 to 2013, al ...

made it the title track of his Christian hymns album ''

I Love to Tell the Story, A Hymns Collection ''I Love to Tell the Story, A Hymns Collection'' is a studio album released by Christian singer Mark Lowry. The album was released by EMI Christian Music Group on July 17, 2007. The album features renditions of several traditional and popular Chri ...

'' released July 17, 2007

References

{{authority control 1866 poems 1869 songs English Christian hymns 19th-century hymns