Sweet Hour of Prayer Lyrics in Large Print: Free PDF
The words of Sweet Hour of Prayer are here in large print, one sheet at 18, 24 or 28 point. Credit: William W. Walford (1845). Published before 1930, so public domain in the US and free to copy.
| Words | William W. Walford (1845) |
|---|---|
| Type size | 18, 24 or 28 pt |
| Paper | US Letter, A4 or 11 x 17 in, white or cream |
Sweet Hour of Prayer in large print: words and download
Sweet Hour of Prayer
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 found relief;
And oft escaped the tempter's snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
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!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah's lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight;
This robe of flesh I'll drop, and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing thro' the air,
Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!
Words: William W. Walford (1845). Music: William B. Bradbury (1861). Public domain in the United States: words published 1845 (US, published 1929 or earlier).
The words above are set the way this site sets every song: left aligned, one column, plain type with no italics, and a blank line between stanzas. The sheet has 3 stanzas and 24 lines. Sweet Hour of Prayer is one of the songs in our large print hymns collection, where you can print it with others in one PDF, and the whole set of texts is listed on the large print prayers and hymns page.
Who wrote Sweet Hour of Prayer and when?
The words are credited to William W. Walford, who lived from 1772 or 1773 to 1850, according to the Wikisource author page. Wikipedia records that the composer William Batchelder Bradbury wrote the tune usually sung with it, along with tunes for Jesus Loves Me and Just As I Am. We could not verify a detailed story of how the words were written from the sources we could reach, so we do not add one here.
When is Sweet Hour of Prayer sung?
Its theme is prayer, so it suits a small prayer group or a quiet part of a service. It suits a reader who wants to follow along with the eye. In the same folder you might keep When I Survey the Wondrous Cross and How Firm a Foundation. If you know this hymn, you may also want What a Friend We Have in Jesus.
How do you print Sweet Hour of Prayer for a service, a sing-along or a care-home visit?
Print at 24 point, one sheet each. For a prayer meeting, keep sheets on the table with the notices. In a care home, a small group works better than a large one for a quiet hymn, so print a handful and share them. Cream matte paper reduces glare, and 28 point copies should be kept spare. Eighteen point is the smallest size we offer, because the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) says print below 18 point is not large print, and our page on what large print is explains the reasons for 18, 24 and 28 point.