Ye Olde History Snippets... “When We All Get to Heaven". Musical score written by Emily Divine Wilson.

On this day, June 23, in 1942, Emily Divine Wilson of Philadelphia, PA passed away.

In her lifetime, Emily Divine Wilson composed Fifty-six hymns.  

She wrote the musical score for the famous hymn “When we all get to heaven.”  

The daughter of John Devine of Ireland and Sarah (Lees) of England. Emily was also the wife of Methodist minister John G. Wilson.

It has been written, that the prominent Presbyterian gospel composer and musician John R. Sweney (1837–1899) likely introduced o Emily Divine Wilson to Eliza Hewitt.   Sweney served the Bethany Presbyterian Church and Sunday School in Philadelphia, at one time described as “one of the largest Sunday Schools in the United States.” 

Together, the three wrote the musical tribute to the afterlife, “When We All Get to Heaven”.  It which was published in Pentecostal Praises (Philadelphia: Hall-Mack Co., 1898).

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​Emily Divine Wilson photo courtesy of 
​freshsheetmusic.com/emily-d-wilson-when-we-all-get-to-heaven-409572/