CLOSE OF WORSHIP
41. Blest be the tie that binds
John Fawcett, 1740-1817
This hymn is often sung at the close of church meetings. Sometimes the custom of the people joining hands while singing is observed.
John Fawcett, an English Baptist minister, was serving a small country church in Yorkshire when he received and accepted a call to a large city church in London, which paid a salary more suited to the needs of his big family. His farewell sermon had been preached, six or seven wagons stood loaded with his furniture and books, and all was ready for his departure. But when the members of his humble flock turned out to bid farewell, many of them in tears, and imploring him to stay, it was more than he or Mrs. Fawcett could stand. He ordered the wagons unloaded and the furniture put back in its place, and sent a message to the London church that he was not coming. Afterwards he wrote this hymn which was to become one of the most famous in the English language.
MUSIC. DENNIS is simple and easy of performance, yet pleasing and effective. The tune was composed by Hans Georg Nägeli, 1768-1836, a Swiss, who was born near Zurich where he spent most of his life as music publisher, composer, and teacher. He was a prominent figure in public school music and was greatly interested in church music.
Lowell Mason found this melody in manuscript form and arranged it for use as a church tune.
For comments on Lowell Mason see [Hymn 12]. The tune “Boylston” ([214]) is also used with this hymn.
42. The Lord be with us as we bend
John Ellerton, 1826-93