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Born: February 27, 1838, Duncannon, Pennsylvania.
Died: September 20, 1921, Germantown, Pennsylvania.
Buried: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Son of a school teacher and musician, Kirkpatrick grew up in a musical atmosphere. In 1854, he went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to study music and learn a trade; he spent over three years as a carpenter. But he was more interested in music than mechanics, devoting all his leisure time to its study. His ambition at the time was to become a violinist.

In 1855, Kirkpatrick joined the Wharton Street Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, and from then on devoted himself mostly to sacred music, giving his services to the choir and Sunday school. As there were few church organs in that day, his violin and cello were in constant demand for choir rehearsals, singing societies, and church programs. During this time he wrote a number of unpublished hymn tunes and anthems.

Kirkpatrick studied vocal music under Professor T. Bishop, then a leading oratorio and ballad singer, and became a member of the Harmonia and Handel and Haydn Sacred Music Societies, where he heard the greatest singers of the day and became familiar with the principal choral works of the great composers. Kirkpatrick’s first published composition was “When the Spark of Life Is Waning,” which appeared around 1858 in the Musical Pioneer in New York. He went on to publish about 50 hymn collections, many in collaboration with John Sweney. His works include:

The Wells of Salvation: Songs for the Sabbath School
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1881) (with John Sweney)
Winning Songs (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1892)
(with John Sweney & Henry Gilmour)
Songs of Love and Praise, No. 3 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
John J. Hood, 1896) (with John Sweney & Henry Gilmour)
Glorious Praise, with Howard Doane
(Louisville, Kentucky: The Baptist Book Concern, 1904)
Revival Melodies, 1921 (editor)
Waves of Glory No. 2, 1921 (editor)


Music

All over the World
Alone with God
Beautiful Robes
Beautiful Sabbath
Blessed Be the Name
Blessing in Prayer, A
By Grace I Will
Calling for You
Calvary’s Stream Is Flowing
Come, for All Things Are Ready
Come, Lord, and Let Thy Pow'r
Comforter Has Come, The
Cradle Song
Dear Jesus, Canst Thou Help Me?
Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd
Deeper Yet
Father All Holy
Gathering Out of Tears
Give Me Thy Heart
Glory To God, Hallelujah
God So Loved the World
Greenwell
Hallelujah! Amen!
Hear and Answer Prayer
He Hideth My Soul
He Is All in All to Me
Healing at the Fountain
His Grace Aboundeth More
I’ll Bear It, Lord, for Thee
In Bethany
In the Book Which Thou Art Keeping
In the Twinkling of an Eye
Jesus, My Only Hope
Jesus Understands!
Keep in the Line
Keep Me Ever Close To Thee
Landås
Lead Me to Calvary
Let the Light Stream In
Like as a Father
Listen to the Blessed Invitation
Lo! the Golden Fields Are Smiling
Lord, I’m Coming Home
Meet Me There
Moline
No King but Christ
O to Abide in Jesus
O to Be Like Thee!
On the Cross of Calvary
Only His Love
Open Bible for the World, An
Praise Jehovah
Praise Ye the Lord
Redeemed
Salvation
Saved to the Uttermost
Saxony
Sing, My Soul!
Sing unto God
Singing I Go
Sometime
Stepping in the Light
Ten Thousand Thanks to Jesus
Thy Holy Spirit, Lord, Alone
’Tis Burning in My Soul
’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
True Shepherd, The
’Twill All Be Right at Last
Under the Blood
Wait, and Murmur Not
Watch and Pray
Watchman, Blow the Gospel Trumpet
We Have an Anchor
We Walk by Faith
Welcome for Me
When Love Shines In
When the Bridegroom Comes
You May Have the Joy-Bells

Source: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/k/i/r/kirkpatrick_wj.html