Gregor, Christian 01/01/1723 - 11/06/1801

Composer and organist Christian Gregor (1723-1801) compiled one of the principal hymnbooks of the Renewed Moravian Church in 1778. It contained 1750 hymns, over 300 of which were composed or arranged by Gregor, and was used for a century by congregations in Germany and elsewhere. Many of Gregor's hymns are found in Moravian hymnals today. He also composed the well-known anthem Hosianna (1765) and a book of four-voice chorale settings.



Born in Dirsdorf, Silesia (now Przerzeczyn Zdrój, Poland), Gregor was orphaned at the age of nine when his mother died, and subsequently raised by the Pietist Count Christian Karl Ludwig von Pfeil. He learned to play organ in his youth, and in 1742 joined the Moravian Church in Herrnhut, Germany, serving as an organist, teacher, spiritual leader, and administrator. His travels on behalf of the church included a two-year visit to Moravian settlements in the United States between 1771-1772. Gregor was ordained minister in 1756 and consecrated bishop in 1789.