The text of this well-known song first appeared in the early 19th century, and it was published as a “shape note” hymn by William Walker in his 1840 edition of The Southern Harmony. The melody is drawn from an English ballad that was 150 years old by then. This version was sketched in June 1995 and completed in February 1996. It was first played on March 10, 1996 at Glenwood Moravian Community Church (Madison, WI), by organist Richard Benson and me. It was revised slightly in 2022 for this edition. What Wondrous Love Is This is dedicated to the memory of my grandmother, Thelma Allsen.
Mike Allsen
February 2022
