February 27, 1838, Duncannon, Pennsylvania.
September 20, 1921, Germantown, Pennsylvania.
Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Annie F. Bourne.
Son of a school teacher and musician, Kirkpatrick grew up in a musical atmosphere. In 1854, he went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to study music and learn a trade; he spent over three years as a carpenter. But he was more interested in music than mechanics, devoting all his leisure time to its study. His ambition at the time was to become a violinist.
In 1855, Kirkpatrick joined the Wharton Street Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, and from then on devoted himself mostly to sacred music, giving his services to the choir and Sunday school. As there were few church organs in that day, his violin and cello were in constant demand for choir rehearsals, singing societies, and church programs. During this time he wrote a number of unpublished hymn tunes and anthems.
Kirkpatrick studied vocal music under Professor T. Bishop, then a leading oratorio and ballad singer. He became a member of the Harmonia and Handel and Haydn Sacred Music Societies, where he heard the greatest singers of the day and became familiar with the principal choral works of the great composers. Kirkpatrick’s first published composition was When the Spark of Life Is Waning, which appeared around 1858 in the Musical Pioneer in New York. He went on to publish about 50 hymn collections, including:
- The Wells of Salvation: Songs for the Sabbath School, with John Sweney (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1881)
- The Royal Fountain, with John Sweney (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1882)
- The Ark of Praise, with John Sweney (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1882)
- Melodious Sonnets, with John Sweney (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1885)
- Songs of Joy and Gladness, with John Sweney et al. (Boston, Massachusetts: McDonald, Gill & Company, 1885)
- Precious Hymns: For Times of Refreshing and Revival, with Thomas Harrison & John Sweney (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1885)
- On Joyful Wing, with John Sweney (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1886)
- Songs of Redeeming Love No. 2, with C. C. McCabe, Tullius O’Kane & John Sweney (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1887)
- Showers of Blessing, with John Sweney (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1888)
- Redemption Songs, with L. W. Munhall & John Sweney (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1889)
- The Joyful Sound, with John Sweney (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1889)
- Cheerful Songs, with John Sweney & Leander Pickett (Louisville, Kentucky: Pickett Publishing Company, 1891)
- Sunlit Songs, with John Sweney & Henry Gilmour (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1890)
- Songs of Joy and Gladness No. 2, with John Sweney et al. (Chicago, Illinois: McDonald, Gill & Company, 1890)
- Radiant Songs, with John Sweney & Henry Gilmour (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1891)
- Praise in Song, with Henry Gilmour (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1893)
- Songs of Love and Praise, No. 2, with John Sweney & Henry Gilmour (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1895)
- Songs of Love and Praise, No. 3, with John Sweney & Henry Gilmour (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1896)
- Songs of Sovereign Grace, with Lincoln Hall & Winfield Weeden (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Hall-Mack Company, 1897)
- The Young People’s Hymnal, with W. D. Kirkland & James Atkins (Nashville, Tennessee: Publishing House of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 1898)
- The Bow of Promise, with George Elderkin, C. C. McCabe, John Sweney & F. A. Hardin (Chicago, Illinois: R. R. McCabe & Company, 1898)
- Sunday-School Praises (Cincinnati, Ohio: Jennings & Pye, 1900)
- Gospel Praises, No. 2, with Henry Gilmour (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Hall-Mack Company, 1900)
- Songs of the Century, with John Sweney & George Elderkin (Chicago, Illinois: George D. Elderkin Publishing Company, 1900)
- Hymns of Grace & Glory, with Joshua Gill & Henry Gilmour (Cleveland, Ohio: Evangelical Publishing House, 1901)
- Songs of the Living Way, with Henry Gilmour & E. L. Hyde (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Pepper Publishing Company, 1901)
- Grateful Praise, with Henry Gilmour (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Hall-Mack Company, 1902)
- Songs of Christian Service, with Henry Gilmour (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Hall-Mack Company, 1903)
- Light and Life Songs, with Thoro Harris & William Olmstead (Chicago, Illinois: S. K. J. Chesbro, 1904)
- Glorious Praise, with Howard Doane (Louisville, Kentucky: The Baptist Book Concern, 1904)
- The Tribute of Song, with Henry Gilmour et al. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Hall-Mack Company, 1904)
- The Redeemer’s Praise, with George Elderkin (Chicago, Illinois: George D. Elderkin Publishing Company, 1906)
- Jubilant Voices, with Howard Doane et al. (Chicago, Illinois: Hope Publishing Company, 1907)
- The King’s Praises, with Henry Gilmour et al. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Praise Publishing Company, 1907)
- The Young People’s Hymnal No. 2, with James Atkins (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1907)
- The Old Story in Song Number Two, with Henry Gilmour et al. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Praise Publishing Company, 1908)
- The Gospel in Song, with Milton S. Rees & Henry Gilmour (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Praise Publishing Company, 1908)
- Joy and Praise, with James Fillmore (Cincinnati, Ohio: Fillmore Music House, circa 1908)
- Songs of Praise and Power, with Henry Gilmour et al. (Chicago, Illinois: The Christian Witness Company, 1909)
- Best of All, with Beverly Carradine & C. J. Fowler (Christian Witness Company, 1910)
- The King’s Praises Number 2, Henry Gilmour et al. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Praise Publishing Company, 1910)
- Spirit of Praise, with Charles Case & Jacob Hall (Dayton, Virginia: The Ruebush-Kieffer Company, 1911)
- The King’s Praises Number Three, Henry Gilmour et al. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Praise Publishing Company, 1912)
- Revival Melodies, 1921
- Waves of Glory No. 2, 1921