Charles Price Jones

Charles Price Jones was born near Rome, Georgia, on December 9, 1865. After settling in Arkansas, he experienced conversion in a Baptist congregation, was licensed to preach in 1887, and studied at Arkansas Baptist College, graduating in 1891. He taught school and held Baptist pastorates before becoming pastor of Mount Helm Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1895.

An experience of sanctification in 1894 helped draw Jones into the emerging African American Holiness movement. In Jackson he preached, organized conventions, edited religious periodicals, and operated a publishing ministry. He worked closely with Charles Harrison Mason, but the two leaders separated in 1907 after Mason embraced speaking in tongues as necessary evidence of Spirit baptism and Jones did not. The body led by Jones developed into the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.; he later served it as senior bishop.

Jones joined doctrine, education, publishing, and music in a single ministry. He wrote both the words and tune of this 1900 hymn and produced numerous other hymns, often connecting songs directly with Scripture. He also wrote poetry and theological works and supported educational and missionary efforts. Jones moved to Los Angeles in 1917 and remained active in church leadership until his death there on January 19, 1949. His hymnody remains a significant expression of African American Holiness spirituality.