By Timothy Peoples
We all know the song and have sung it at parties, restaurants and in some of the craziest places we would not want to admit. According to USA Today, “Every 5-year-old knows it. It is the most frequently sung song in the English language, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, surpassing the works of Bach, Beethoven and the Beatles, says the Songwriters Hall of Fame. It has been sung in [more than] 143 movies, translated into at least 18 languages and used in ads to sell everything from insurance to margarine.”
The song’s melody originated from a school teachers’ greeting song titled “Good Morning to All,” composed by American sisters Mildred and Patty Hill in 1893, although there have been many lawsuits and questions regarding who should be credited with the song. The first time the combination of the lyrics and melody appeared was in 1912.
Yes, I know you are at the edge of your seat to know which song it is. The answer: “Happy Birthday.”
On June 14, 2026, we will be saying and singing “happy 75th birthday” to Wilshire Baptist Church! It is truly an exciting time — an opportunity to celebrate our history while also committing to our future in new and exciting ways. Starting at today’s lunch after church, we will be rolling out information regarding our celebration. While we are celebrating, we will also be rolling out new ideas that will allow us to better be Wilshire Baptist Church for the future.
When I think about the group of people gathered on a warm summer day at the Carswell home, I wonder if they imagined this church would be what it is today. It is because of their faith, imagination and the wonderful will of God that the dream of this church ever came to fruition.
In all these years Wilshire has been a guiding light in the heart of Dallas and around the nation. That doesn’t mean we always got things right. But we have taken time to learn from our mistakes and even the hurts we have placed on another.
Through these years we have found ways to evolve with an ever-evolving faith. We have been a church who strives to adhere to Jesus’ words “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.” A church of mission, justice, action, faith — and proclaimers of the Good News in a rough world. And may that always be a continued faithful path we follow.