In 1858 the University of the City of New York conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Music in recognition of his accomplishments. Hastings is generally credited with being the person most instrumental in shaping the development of American church music.
Though his formal musical training was meager, he wrote over fifty volumes of church music, including 1,000 hymn tunes and more than 600 original hymn texts as well as editing more than fifty music collections.
As an albino, he was afflicted with eye problems throughout his life.