NeuroDivine

The River Bann has long been a place of refuge for me. As a Venture Scout, I learned its rhythms from the seat of a canoe—the quiet pull of the current, the soft slap of water against the hull, the sense that the river always knew where it was going. I found the same calm in the forest at Portglenone and in the abbey whose bricks have carried generations of prayer. I don’t get back as often now, but those places remain alive in me: steady as the river, sheltering as the trees, faithful as the abbey’s long watch. This hymn grows out of those memories—a thanksgiving for the landscapes that have become a home of the heart.

Where the Bann Runs Deep with Mercy

Metre: 8.7.8.7 D

By the Bann’s slow‑shining waters,
Where the reeds in stillness stand,
You have walked with generations,
Sowing peace upon this land.
In the hush of Portglenone’s ways,
Through the forest’s breathing shade,
You reveal your quiet splendour,
Every leaf your love has made.

In the abbey’s bricks of waiting,
In its long, unbroken prayer,
Faithful ones have sought your presence,
Found your guiding mercy there.
Still the walls hold whispered longing,
Still the bells call hearts to rise;
You renew your ancient promise
Under wide blue Antrim skies.

God of quiet waters flowing,
Far beyond what eyes can see,
Shape our lives like patient waters,
Carving paths to set us free.
Root our hope like forest seedlings,
Let our trust grow tall and strong;
Make our hearts your living temple,
Make our days your steady song.

As the Bann moves on in blessing,
As the seasons turn and bend,
Keep us faithful in our journey,
Walking with you to the end.
Till the light beyond the treetops
Breaks in dawn we long to know,
Lead us on, O God of rivers,
Where your endless mercies flow.

Text copyright (c) 2026 Michael McFarland Campbell.