Fanny Crosby, Archbishop Burned at the Stake, ‘Amazing Grace’ Author Converted

Christianity is a faith with a long and detailed history, with numerous events of lasting significance occurring throughout the ages.

Each week brings the anniversaries of great milestones, horrid tragedies, amazing triumphs, telling tribulations, inspirational progress, and everything in between.

Here are just a few things that happened this week, March 18-24, in Church history. They include the birth of a prolific hymnist, the martyrdom of an archbishop, and the conversion of the man behind the classic hymn “Amazing Grace.”

Fanny Crosby Born – March 24, 1820

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This week marks the anniversary of when famous blind hymnist Fanny Crosby, who wrote such sacred songs as “Blessed Assurance,” “To God be the Glory,” “Near the Cross,” was born.

Losing her sight as a child due to an infection and improper medical treatments, Crosby authored thousands of hymns and poems during her lifetime.

So prolific her contributions and influence on American hymnody, that one biographer referred to Crosby as the “Queen of Gospel Songs.”

Archbishop Thomas Cranmer Burned at the Stake – March 21, 1556

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