I stand amazed in the presence

Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (1858-1932) wrote words and tune for this evangelical favourite.  He was born in a farming family in Iowa, USA. He had no formal training in music, but taught himself to play the family's organ.  He had a natural ear for music and composed hymns and songs using many pseudonyms, as well as editing books of songs for choirs, congregations and children.  He considered his best work to be a cantata for adult voices, "Saul, King of Israel."