Scripture Verse

Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are. John 17:11

Introduction

Words: Will­iam H. Tur­ton, 1881, alt. This hymn was first sung June 22, 1881, at the Eng­lish Church Un­ion An­ni­ver­sa­ry Ser­vice at St. Ma­ry Mag­da­lene’s, Mun­ster Square, Lon­don.

Music: Song 1 (Gib­bons) Or­lan­do Gib­bons, 1623 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Tur­ton (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625)

Lyrics

Lord, who the night You were be­trayed did pray
That all Your Church might be for­ev­er one;
Help us at every Eucharist to say
With willing heart and soul, Your will be done.
That we may all one bread, one body be
Through this, Your sacrament of un­i­ty.

For all Your Church on earth, we in­ter­cede;
Lord, make our sad divisions soon to cease;
Draw us all closer, each to each, we plead,
By drawing all to You, O Prince of Peace;
So may we all one bread, one body be,
Through this blest sacrament of un­i­ty.

And hear our prayer for wanderers from Your fold;
Restore them, too, Good Shepherd of the sheep,
Back to the faith your saints con­fessed of old,
And to the Church still pledged that faith to keep.
Soon may we all one bread, one body be,
Through this blest sacrament of un­i­ty.

So, Lord, at length when sac­ra­ments shall cease,
May we be one with all your Church above—
One with Your saints in one un­brok­en peace,
One as Your bride in one un­bound­ed love;
More blessèd still, in peace and love to be
One with the Trinity in unity.