Anne S. Murphy

Birth Year: 1877
Death Year: 1942

Anne S. Murphy was an American hymn writer of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Although detailed biographical records about her life are limited, her contribution to gospel hymnody has endured through texts that emphasize inward peace, assurance, and trust in Christ.

Her most widely known hymn is “There’s a Peace in My Heart That the World Never Gave.” This text reflects a deeply experiential faith rooted in the promises of Scripture. The theme centers on the believer’s inner peace that comes not from outward circumstances, but from reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. The wording closely echoes John 14:27, where Christ declares, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” The hymn captures this contrast between worldly instability and the abiding calm that flows from saving faith.

Murphy’s writing reflects the devotional character typical of gospel songs of her era. These hymns were designed for revival meetings, prayer gatherings, and congregational worship, often focusing on personal testimony and spiritual comfort. The repeated emphasis on peace suggests a strong awareness of the believer’s security in Christ and the sustaining presence of the Holy Spirit.

Another text attributed to her is “O Land of Rest, for Thee I Sigh,” a hymn that expresses longing for heaven and eternal rest. This theme of pilgrimage and hope aligns with Hebrews 11:13-16, where believers are described as strangers and pilgrims seeking a better country, that is, an heavenly. Such themes were especially common in the gospel hymn tradition, which frequently looked forward to the believer’s final home with the Lord.

Her hymn has also been translated into Chinese, demonstrating its cross cultural appeal and enduring usefulness in Christian worship. The fact that her text appears in multiple hymnals indicates that congregations have found lasting value in her clear expression of spiritual peace and assurance.

Though much of her personal history remains undocumented, Anne S. Murphy’s legacy lives on through hymns that direct believers to the settled peace found only in Christ. Her work stands as an example of how even writers with limited recorded biography can have a lasting spiritual influence through faithful, Scripture shaped hymn texts.