Father, we humbly pray
To Thee, in whom we live;
Our countless sins, for Jesu’s sake,
Forgive, O Lord, forgive.
We have unthankful been
For all Thy tender care;
Thine indignation we deserve;
But spare, O Father, spare.
The creatures of Thy hand
Made for Thy glory are;
But we those creatures have abused;
Spare us, O Father, spare.
From plague and pestilence,
From famine, fire, and sword,
From flood and storm, from dearth and drought,
Deliver us, O Lord.
From hard and stubborn hearts,
Scorning Thy holy Word,
From discord, strife, and heresy,
Deliver us, O Lord.
With genial rains and dews
Temper the circling year,
With golden sunshine and fresh breeze;
Hear us, O Father, hear,
Sheepfolds and garners fill,
The homestead and the stall;
Orchards and gardens crown with fruits,
Maker and Lord of all.
Love in our households breathe;
Hearts ready to obey
As in Thy sight, and as to Thee,
Give us, O Lord, we pray.
Bless, Lord, our gracious Queen,
With Thy best bounties bless;
Grant her a long and glorious reign
In peace and quietness.
Bless, Lord, Thy holy Church,
With heav’nly graces bless.
That it may flourish and abound
In love and godliness.
Bishops and clergy bless;
Holy, and grave, and wise,
Faithful and zealous may they be
In all their ministries.
Our ancient minsters bless,
Where deep-toned organs peal;
And village churches ’mong the trees,
Where peaceful peasants kneel.
Our schools of learning bless,
Our colleges and halls;
May piety and wisdom dwell
Ever within their walls!
Counsel in senates give,
Justice and law maintain;
And make contentment in all hearts
And loyalty to reign.
Our fleets and armies bless
With courage from on high;
And in all just and righteous wars
Give them the victory.
The widow desolate,
The children fatherless,
All who in grief and sorrow are,
Comfort, O Lord, and bless.
The erring and in sin,
All, Lord, who from Thee stray,
Bring them, O bring them back again
To Thy most holy way.
All who to heathen climes
Go forth and preach Thy Word,
Bearing glad tidings of good things,
Speed them, and help them, Lord.
May all who sit in gloom
Thy glorious light behold,
One faith, one Father, and one Lord,
One Shepherd, and one fold!
So may we all with Christ
To highest Heav’n ascend,
And hallelujahs sing to Thee
In glory without end.
AI Overview
"Father, We Humbly Pray" was written by Christopher Wordsworth (1807–1885), an Anglican Bishop of Lincoln and nephew of poet William Wordsworth, published in his 1862 collection The Holy Year. The hymn is a prayer for national and personal repentance, invoking blessings for the church, schools, government, and society while asking for deliverance from strife, drought, and spiritual decay.
Creation and Context
Thematic Purpose: The hymn was designed to address contemporary national anxieties in Victorian England, focusing on repentance and divine protection, including prayers for "plague and pestilence," "famine, fire, and sword".
Context of The Holy Year: Wordsworth created The Holy Year to provide hymns for the Sundays and holy days of the Anglican Church, reflecting his deep love for Scripture and his desire to return to "primitive usage" in worship, often drawing inspiration from Holy Scripture, according to.
Focus on Society: It includes specific petitions for "our fleets and armies" and "our schools of learning" to receive blessings.
Theological Tone: The lyrics, such as "Spare us, O Father, spare," emphasize human fallibility, asking for forgiveness and divine guidance in a time of need.
The hymn is designed to act upon the "mind, heart, and life of the worshipper" rather than just providing music, ensuring that a prayerful posture is maintained within the church.
This song is Copyright © 2026 by Robert K. Lewis. Lyrics are by Christopher Wordsworth and are in the Public Domain. Samplings are Copyrighted by their respective creators. The completed song is A.I. generated by MusicHero.ai and is Licensed to Robert K. Lewis. You may link to this song, but not embed or reproduce this song elsewhere on the internet.
