Johann Christian Bechler

John Christian Bechler (Jan. 7, 1784 – Apr. 18, 1857) was a Moravian bishop, educator, and composer. Born on Oesel Island (now part of Estonia), he was trained in Moravian schools and served in the United States as professor and principal at Nazareth Hall and the Bethlehem Seminary before returning to Europe for wider leadership. An accomplished organist, he composed several anthems and hymn tunes, notably Eternal Praise (also called Bechler), written about 1812 for John Swertner’s text Sing Hallelujah, Praise the Lord. His music remains a cherished element of Moravian worship.
J. S. McDuff (from Moravian Church historical records and early-nineteenth-century hymn collections in the public domain, retrieved 9/15/2025)