Intermediate
What Are They Doing In Heaven?
3:08
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Browse piano sheets by Charles A. Tindley on Zen Virtual Piano. Charles A. Tindley was a Methodist minister and hymn writer whose education grew from determination rather than a conventional early schooling. He learned to read and write at seventeen, then moved to Philadelphia. Work as a hod carrier and church janitor accompanied night classes, and he later took a correspondence course through the Boston School of Theology. In 1902, Tindley became pastor of the Philadelphia church where he had once worked as janitor. The congregation grew under his leadership, eventually requiring larger premises. A building erected in 1924 was named Tindley Temple despite his objections. His church brought together people from different racial and national backgrounds, with both Black and white members represented in its leadership. Tindley wrote words and music for many gospel songs, including Nothing Between, Leave It There and We’ll Understand It Better By and By. What Are They Doing In Heaven? is also among his hymns. His I’ll Overcome Some Day later influenced We Shall Overcome in spirit and thought, rather than through a direct match of words or melody.
Browse piano sheets by Charles A. Tindley on Zen Virtual Piano.
Charles A. Tindley was a Methodist minister and hymn writer whose education grew from determination rather than a conventional early schooling. He learned to read and write at seventeen, then moved to Philadelphia. Work as a hod carrier and church janitor accompanied night classes, and he later took a correspondence course through the Boston School of Theology.
In 1902, Tindley became pastor of the Philadelphia church where he had once worked as janitor. The congregation grew under his leadership, eventually requiring larger premises. A building erected in 1924 was named Tindley Temple despite his objections. His church brought together people from different racial and national backgrounds, with both Black and white members represented in its leadership.
Tindley wrote words and music for many gospel songs, including Nothing Between, Leave It There and We’ll Understand It Better By and By. What Are They Doing In Heaven? is also among his hymns. His I’ll Overcome Some Day later influenced We Shall Overcome in spirit and thought, rather than through a direct match of words or melody.
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Common questions
After learning to read and write at seventeen, he attended night school while working in Philadelphia. He also took a correspondence course through the Boston School of Theology.
He became pastor of the Philadelphia church where he had earlier served as janitor. Its growing congregation later moved into larger premises and adopted the Tindley Temple name.
Hymnology Archive identifies I’ll Overcome Some Day as an influence in spirit and thought. It does not describe the later song as a direct borrowing of his words or melody.