185. Thou art the Way, to Thee alone
George W. Doane, 1799-1859
Based on John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
The hymn was written by one of the most able and influential men in the Episcopal Church in America. It takes high rank among all the hymns America has produced, and is one of the few hymns of American origin included in the famous English book, Hymns Ancient and Modern. It is written in simple style, employing only twelve words of more than one syllable.
For further comments on Bishop Doane see [Hymn 36].
MUSIC. LAMBETH was composed in 1871 by Wilhelm A. F. Schulthes. No information is at hand concerning the composer. The tune was taken from The Hymnal (Protestant Episcopal, 1916).