John Ellerton (1826-93), an Anglican priest and scholar of hymnody, wrote this hymn in 1866 for the closing service of the festival of the Malpas, Middlewich and Nantwich Choral Association in Cheshire. It first appeared under the heading "The Lord shall give His people the blessing of peace" (Psalm 29:11). In 1868 Ellerton cut his five stanzas to four and revised them so they would express, in his words, "a faith or feeling such as is, or ought to be, common to the whole or the greater part of the congregation." Most of Ellerton's hymns are addressed to God the Father; this one speaks to the Son and echoes His promise, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you" (John 14:27). The stanzas move from the parting hymn of praise to the homeward way, through the coming night, and at last to eternal peace when earthly conflict ceases. Its plain, almost childlike vocabulary was meant to serve scholar and layman alike. The tune ELLERS, probably named for the author, is by the English organist Edward J. Hopkins (1818-1901), first printed in 1869 for unison voices and organ. The last stanza was sung at Ellerton's funeral on June 20, 1893.
Sung at Our Saviour
2026