God of Our Fathers

Did you know that America has a “National Hymn"? Most people don’t know that, but we do, and I’m not speaking about the National Anthem. I’m talking about the hymn God of Our Fathers. Though it has never been formally designated by Congress, the hymn has often been played on occasions such as the 4th of July. We don’t hear it or sing it very often nowadays, and that’s a pity because in many ways it is an ideal marriage of tune and text. After checking around, I found a webpage that explains the story behind the hymn. It turns out that Daniel Roberts wrote the hymn in 1876 for America’s centennial celebration. (Click on the mp3 link to hear a choir singing God of Our Fathers.) 

Since this is the National Day of Prayer, I would encourage you to read the words and use them as an incentive to pray for our nation today. 

Here is a video of Diane Bish playing God of Our Fathers on the massive pipe organ at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.