Sweet Hour of Prayer
A devotional hymn of refuge in the daily appointment with God in prayer.
Download PDFA devotional hymn of refuge in the daily appointment with God in prayer. Written by William W. Walford (1845), set to the tune "Sweet Hour" by William B. Bradbury.
Suggested pairing scripture
Matthew 6:6
"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
Read Matthew 6:6 (KJV) aloud as a call to worship before the congregation sings "Sweet Hour of Prayer." It anchors the hymn in the Word from which it flows.
Read in contextWhen to sing this
Sing at funerals, memorial services, hospital visits, and any time the congregation needs the consolation of God's presence.
Lyrics
Stanza 1
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, That calls me from a world of care, And bids me at my Father's throne Make all my wants and wishes known! In seasons of distress and grief, My soul has often found relief, And oft escaped the tempter's snare, By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.
Stanza 2
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, The joys I feel, the bliss I share Of those whose anxious spirits burn With strong desires for thy return! With such I hasten to the place Where God my Saviour shows His face, And gladly take my station there, And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.
Stanza 3
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, Thy wings shall my petition bear To Him whose truth and faithfulness Engage the waiting soul to bless. And since He bids me seek His face, Believe His Word, and trust His grace, I'll cast on Him my every care, And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.
History & Background
Tradition holds that William Walford, a blind English lay preacher, dictated the verses to Congregational pastor Thomas Salmon around 1842. Salmon brought the lines to America, where the New York Observer published them in 1845. William Bradbury composed the tune in 1859.
Scripture Behind the Hymn
Matthew 6:6
"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."Read in context
Frequently Asked Questions
Was William Walford really blind?
According to Thomas Salmon's account, Walford was a blind lay preacher in Coleshill, England who dictated the verses to him. Some scholars dispute the identification, but the traditional account remains the most cited.
Related Hymns
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Related Reading
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Matthew 6:6 Commentary
In-depth study • Prayer
Where to go next
Enjoyed "Sweet Hour of Prayer"? These pages pair well with it for worship planning.
- Browse the full hymnal libraryLyrics, authors and scripture pairings.Continue
- Plan this Sunday's serviceCall-to-worship verses and printable kits.Continue
- Sermon series with matching verse setsOutlines and printable packs.Continue
- Today's Bible verse (KJV)A fresh verse and short reflection each day.Continue