Paul Gerhardt, one of the Church’s greatest hymn writers, authored over 100 hymns that are still being sung in the Christian Church throughout the world today.

He was born in Gräfenhainichen, Germany around 1607. In 1651, after finishing his studies in
Berlin as tutor, he received his first pastoral position at Mittenwalde, near Berlin. Six years later,
he accepted an invitation as "diaconus" to St. Nicholas Church in Berlin. He refused to accept
Elector Frederick William's edict, which tried to unite Reformists and Lutherans, and was
removed in 1666.

The following year, due to the strong protestations from his congregation, he was absolved and restored to office, but because the position could only be held on condition that he denounce of the Formula of Concord, one of the Lutheran Confessions, he left this post. In 1668 he was appointed archdeacon of Lübben in Saxony where he remained until his death in 1676.

The following hymn tunes are commonly associated with Paul Gerhardt’s texts. Click on the names below to search for MorningStar products that include these tunes: