William Williams (1717-91), called Williams Pantycelyn after the farm where he was raised, was the leading hymn writer of Wales and a leader of its Calvinistic Methodist movement. He published "Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch" ("Lord, lead me through the wilderness") in 1762 under the heading "Prayer for strength to go through the world's wilderness." Peter Williams (no relation) translated the first stanza in 1771, and the English of the other two is traditionally credited to the author himself. Earlier hymnals began "Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah," but the Welsh original has no "Jehovah" at all, so LSB reads "Redeemer." The hymn retraces the exodus: the pillar of cloud and fire, bread from heaven, water from the rock, and the crossing of the Jordan into Canaan as a picture of death and safe arrival home. John Hughes wrote the tune CWM RHONDDA for a hymn festival at Capel Rhondda, Pontypridd, on November 17, 1907, and it spread to Welsh miners, soldiers and rugby crowds.
Sung at Our Saviour
2026