Hymn Writer, Composer, Singer. A Lutheran Pietist (is a movement within Lutheranism that combines its emphasis on biblical doctrine with the Reformed emphasis on individual piety and living a vigorous Christian life), he will be best remembered for his many songs including, "Children Of The Heavenly Father" (or "Tryggare kan ingen varaand"), and "Day By Day" (or "Blott en dag"), which are considered by far two of his greatest works. The latter was often sung at funerals. He was born one of seven children (he also had a sister and five brothers) in Gullarp, Eslövs kommun, Skåne län, Sweden, to Pastor Jonas Ahnfelt and his wife Clara Strömberg Ahnfelt on May 21, 1813. He was educated locally and originally intended to be a priest but after his study of theology, he was never able to get his full theological degree and he eventually decided to be a writer of music instead. His father was named the new pastor in Knästorp Parish, Sweden, and the family moved to the south of Lund, Sweden, when he was fourteen years old. He then accompanied Bishop Johan Henrik Thomander to Stockholm, Sweden, where he studied music at the prestigious Royal Conservatory of Music beginning at the age of sixteen. He began singing and offering music lessons for a fee to make ends meet and it was here that he was able to purchase the material needed to make his own 10 string guitar. He then performed concerts and received high appraise for his musical abilities. He became known as Sweden's "Spiritual Troubadour" and he composed and arranged music for the likes of Lina Sandell (she was also a pietist). He even traveled with her throughout Scandinavia singing her hymns, accompanying himself with his 10 string guitar. He sang them so much that she wrote, "Ahnfelt has sung my songs into the hearts of the people." The great entertainer Jenny Lind (also a pietist) who was known as the "Swedish Nightingale" also sang and popularized those songs while she sang in the United States and around the world. In 1850, she financed the first edition of Ahnfelt's and Sandell's songs, entitled, "Andeliga Sånger" (or "Sacred Songs"). He was not a fan favourite of the state church and they opposed his pietistic hymns. The state church put a royal injunction against his singing any of Lina Sandell's songs and he was ordered to sing them before King Karl XV of Sweden. Upon hearing him sing King Karl XV exclaimed, "You may sing as much as you desire in both of my kingdoms." He continued to work in music with Lina Sandell and other hymnists until his death. Besides, "Children Of The Heavenly Father" (or "Tryggare kan ingen varaand"), and "Day By Day" (or "Blott en dag"), he published 12 songbooks with a total of 200 songs which were compiled in a songbook entitled, "Spiritual Songs By Oscar Ahnfelt." He passed away in Karlshamn, Sweden, on October 22, 1882, at the age of 69, and was buried in the Hvilans Kyrkogård in that city. He was married to Clara Ahnfelt (with whom he had two children, Oscar Jonatan and Maria Elisabeth, but they both died in infancy), who passed away on March 19, 1896, at the age of 77, and is buried with him. His friend and fellow songwriter Lena Sandell passed in Stockholm, Sweden, on July 27, 1903, at the age of 70, and was buried in Solna Cemetery in Solna, Sweden.