The story behind the hymn
Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane was a Scottish writer who died young, in 1869. Her hymns appeared after her death in The Family Treasury, a Scottish Presbyterian magazine, under the title “Breathings on the Border.” Its editor described them as written at the edge of life, with eternity in view.
The tune ST. CHRISTOPHER was written by Frederick C. Maker for the 1881 supplement to the Bristol Tune Book. It is a demanding tune with a chromatic line, and the hymn is always sung to it.
The hymn is most often sung during Lent and Holy Week.
The Scripture behind it
as the shade of a great rock in a weary land.
Isaiah 32:2 (World English Bible)
Read Isaiah 32:1–2 in full.
A short reflection
The cross is not only the place where sin was dealt with. It is also shade for the weary. Take a few quiet minutes this week simply to rest in what Christ has done.
Jesus, I rest in your cross. Be my shelter. Amen.
The full words
Read the full words of this hymn, with tunes and scores, on Hymnary.org.
Read the full hymn text →Source for author, dates and public-domain status: Hymnary.org. Scripture quoted from the World English Bible (public domain).