NeuroDivine

O God of Patrick, still our guide

A congregational hymn for St Patrick’s Day celebrating the missionary witness of Patrick and the Christian heritage of Ireland.

O God of Patrick, still our guide,
Whose light first pierced our night;
Your ancient Church in Ireland stands,
A witness to your light.

From bog and meadow, hill and glen,
Your praise has never ceased;
From mountain paths to loughside wells,
Your grace flows west to east.

You called your servant Patrick forth
To walk our rugged land;
Through storm and shadow, fear and doubt,
He trusted your command.

He preached your name by holy wells,
By stones where saints once prayed;
And in the quiet of the bogs,
Your whispered truth was laid.

So bless your people here today,
Who keep the faith he bore;
Renew your Church in Ireland’s heart,
And guide us evermore.

For still the mountains lift their praise,
The rivers sing your grace;
And Christ, High King of all our hearts,
Shines bright in every place.

Hymn Information

First line: O God of Patrick, still our guide

Text: Michael McFarland Campbell

Metre: Common Metre (8.6.8.6)

Suggested tune: Ballerma

Theme: St Patrick, Irish mission, Celtic Christianity

Liturgical use: St Patrick’s Day or services on the Christian heritage of Ireland

Reflection

As St Patrick’s Day nears, I’ve continued my reflection on the missionary bishop, whose witness helped shape the Church in this land.

Beneath the symbols and celebrations is a man composed through prayer, captivity, repentance, and obedience. Patrick’s coming back to Ireland was not triumphal, but faithful—a response to Christ’s call to preach the Gospel among the people who had once enslaved him.

The above St Patrick’s Day hymn was written to honour that deeper memory: Patrick the pastor and missionary bishop, whose witness helped root the Irish Christian Church in this land.

The hymn, which was written in Common Metre, is designed for congregational worship, and may be sung on St Patrick’s Day or in services reflecting on the Christian heritage of Ireland.

Copyright

© Michael McFarland Campbell 2026

Permission granted for local church or parish use with attribution. Not for commercial reproduction.

This hymn appears in my collection A Living Cloud of Irish Witnesses.