William M. Runyan
1870–1957 · USA · Romantic
William Marion Runyan (1870-1957) was an American gospel songwriter and prolific hymn text author who shaped early 20th-century evangelical worship music. He served as music editor for The Pentecostal Herald and was instrumental in compiling and editing numerous gospel songbooks that disseminated contemporary hymn texts to Pentecostal and holiness movement congregations. Runyan authored or co-authored thousands of gospel songs and hymn texts, establishing himself as one of the most prolific hymnodists of his era. His contributions to American gospel music were characterized by accessible, devotional language designed for congregational singing and spiritual revival meetings. His legacy includes both original compositions and significant editorial work that helped standardize and preserve the gospel song tradition in American Protestantism.