Welcome Home!

He is the down payment of our inheritance... to the praise of His glory

I will sing of my Redeemer and His wondrous love to me; on the cruel cross He suffered from the curse to set me free.

I will tell the wondrous story, how my lost estate to save, in His boundless love and mercy, He the ransom freely gave.

I will praise my dear Redeemer, His triumphant pow'r I'll tell, how the victory He giveth over sin and death and hell.

I will sing of my Redeemer, and His heav'nly love to me; He from death to life hath brought me. Son of God, with Him to be.

CHORUS
Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer, with His blood He purchased me; on the cross He sealed my pardon, paid the debt and made me free.

Philip was born July 9, 1838, in Rome, Pennsylvania.  His dad was a dedicated Christian, loved music and lead daily family prayer, all well-remembered by Philip. Philip had little schooling, except for hearing his father sing, and learning from his mother’s teaching. Philip was 10 years old when he first saw and heard a woman playing the piano. In 1849, at the age of 11, he left home to make a living for himself and would spend the next five years of his life working at lumber camps and sawmills. At the age of 12, he made his first profession of faith and joined the Baptist Church of Cherry Flats, PA. He never remembered a time that he did not love Christ.
In 1857, he met J. G. Towner who gave Philip his first formal voice lessons. He also met William Bradbury, a noted composer of sacred music, at a musical convention.  One year later, he met Lucy Young, who later became his wife. They sang beautiful duets in service of Christ.  In 1860, he became a professional music teacher. Philip and Lucy held many singing schools, concerts, and conventions. He wrote many hymns and Sunday school songs. In 1869, he met D. L. Moody, who urged Philip to become a singing evangelist.  He also met Major Daniel Whittle.  The Blisses moved into an apartment at the Whittle house, where he wrote two of his most famous songs: "Hold the Fort", and "Jesus Loves Even Me". Bliss and Whittle teamed up and became a successful evangelistic duo and were well-known in the eastern and central states.
On November 24, 1876, Philip sang at a ministers' meeting conducted by Moody in Chicago, over 1000 preachers were present. Bliss introduced a new that he had just written the music for, "It is Well with My Soul".  Philip now has one month left of his life. Next, he conducted a service for 800 inmates in Michigan State Prison, where he sang "Hallelujah! What a Savior!". Many of the inmates that heard this song wept, and repented of their sins. The Bliss family spent the Christmas holidays with Philip's mother and sister. Philip received a telegram asking him to go to Chicago early and take part in a meeting the Sunday following Christmas. Philip and Lucy agreed and left their one-year-old and four-year-old sons with his mother. On December 29, 1876, the Pacific Express Train was struggling along in a blinding snowstorm.  The train had eleven coaches pulled by 2 engines, creeping through huge drifts, in Ohio. Passing over a bridge, the first engine reached solid ground before the bridge collapsed, but sadly for many, the rest of the train fell into cold, icy water. Five minutes later, fire broke out, the wooden coaches were ablaze fanned by the winds. Philip had succeeded in crawling to safety, unfortunately, his wife was trapped, pinned under the seat. Philip remained at Lucy's side, trying to free her. Tragically, they both died in the fire. No remains of their bodies were found. Mr. Bliss's trunk reached Chicago, and when it was opened, the last song written before his death was "I know not what awaits me. God kindly veils my eyes..." The funeral was held in Rome, PA. Memorial services were held throughout the nation.  On December 31, Moody held a song service for Philip and Lucy Bliss - 8000 filled the hall and 4000 were outside.