William Batchelder Bradbury (1816–1868) composed the tunes of two of the most famous hymns of all time: “Jesus Loves Me” and “Just as I Am.”
This month is the 200th anniversary of his birth.
He was born Oct. 6, 1816, in York, Maine, where his father led a church choir. His family moved to Boston where at the age of 15 he joined Charles Street Baptist Church.
He met Lowell Mason, the first important music educator in American public schools and attended Mason’s Boston Academy of Music and sang in Mason’s Bowdoin Street Church Choir.
Organist, music director
Bradbury worked as the organist and music director for First Baptist Church, Brooklyn, and later at Baptist Tabernacle of New York City. In 1841 at the Tabernacle he started a singing class for young people. Soon these classes became very popular around the city, resulting in annual “Juvenile Musical Festivals.” These events brought together 1,000 children who sang as a choir. During this time he introduced the teaching of singing into New York City public schools.
Continued training
Always trying to improve himself as a musician and educator, in 1847 he traveled to Europe to study piano, singing, harmony and composition under great German masters.
Bradbury compiled 59 books of children’s songs and hymns and his own tunes from 1841 to 1867. His three music collections — The Jubilee, Golden Chain of Sabbath School Melodies and Fresh Laurels for the Sabbath School — sold more than 3 million copies.
Music historians have noted that his melodies have an easy, natural flow, and his harmonies are simple and natural.
The evangelistic team of Dwight L. Moody and Ira Sankey used Bradbury’s songs and made them popular around the world.
In 1835 poet and hymn writer Charlotte Elliott wrote the words to “Just as I Am.” Bradbury composed the music in 1849. Evangelist Billy Graham used the hymn for his altar call in his crusades. It is known all over the world and has been published in many languages.
One-line chorus
In 1862, Bradbury read the novel “Say and Seal,” written by Susan Warner, and was moved by a children’s poem in the book written by the author’s sister, Anna Warner. He added a melody to Anna Warner’s lyrics. He also added a one-line chorus, just four simple words to be repeated over and over — “Yes, Jesus loves me.” The song “Jesus Loves Me” became one of the most beloved songs of all time and has been published in numerous languages. Music historians estimate that only “Happy Birthday to You” rivals “Jesus Loves Me” in the number of times they have been sung.
‘He Leadeth Me’
Other songs that Bradbury put to music can be found in Baptist and other denominational hymnals. Some of them are “He Leadeth Me,” “Sweet Hour of Prayer,” “The Solid Rock,” “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” and “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less.”
Bradbury suffered from tuberculosis the last two years of his life. He died Jan. 7, 1868, in Bloomfield, New Jersey. His last words to a friend were, “My soul seems to have gained the victory. I am so happy now. I rest wholly upon Christ. May God give me the grace to die.” He was buried in Bloomfield Cemetery. His wife and five children survived him.
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