Spirit, flame upon the heather

Spirit, flame upon the heather,
Wind that sweeps th’Atlantic shore,
Breath of Christ, who gathers us all,
Peace He breathed in days of yore.
As the curlew lifts its calling,
As the gorse blooms gold and bright,
So Your fire on us is falling—
Burning fear and birthing light.

2.
See the white bog‑cotton dancing,
Bright as tongues of holy flame;
So the Spirit stirs and glances,
Calling each of us by name.
From the west the Wild Goose winging
Bears the blessing of the skies;
So Your living breath comes bringing
Dreams and visions to arise.

3.
One in Christ, though gifts are many,
Woven threads in one design;
None are lost and none are empty,
All are needed, all are Thine.
As the salmon seeks the river,
Finding home through ancient ways,
Lead us, Spirit, strong Deliverer,
Into truth that lights our days.

4.
On this earth, Your world of wonder,
Fields and forests praise Your name;
Storm and stillness, roar and thunder
Tell the glory You proclaim.
As the red deer on the mountain
Lifts its head at dawn’s first breath,
So we rise beside Your fountain—
Life outpoured from Christ’s own death.

5.
Fire of God, renew Your people;
Wind of God, restore our land;
Break our fear and raise our temple
On foundations You have planned.
Send us out with hearts made ready,
Tongues aflame with holy speech;
Spirit, keep our footsteps steady
In the Gospel that we preach.

6.
(Optional final verse for Pentecost with Communion)
At Your table, Christ our Saviour,
Bread is broken, cup is shared;
Father, bless us with Your favour,
Spirit, keep our hearts prepared.
As the lark sings dawn’s renewing,
Praise be sung to Three‑in‑One—
Glory, thanks, and alleluia
To the Father, Spirit, Son.

Hymn information

First line: Spirit, flame upon the heather
Text: Michael McFarland Campbell
Metre: 87 87 D
Tune: Salley Gardens, or Nettleton
Theme: Pentecost, Holy Spirit,

Reflection

As we approach the feast of Pentecost, we often find ourselves looking for the “tongues of flame” in the abstract. But for many of us whose minds are wired to see the intricate details of the world, God often speaks through the texture of the earth beneath our feet.

The hymn “Spirit, Flame Upon the Heather” was written to ground the wild, soaring energy of the Holy Spirit in the rugged beauty of our own Atlantic landscape.

The Spirit in the Particular

In the neurodivergent experience, “bottom-up” processing often means we notice the small things first—the way bog-cotton dances or the specific gold of the gorse. This hymn invites us to see these as “holy tongues of flame.” Pentecost isn’t just a historical event in a faraway upper room; it is the Wild Goose (the ancient Celtic name for the Spirit) winging its way across our own hills.

If you feel “different” or “othered” by the world, remember Verse 2: the Spirit is calling each of us by name. Not as a collective mass, but as individuals with unique cognitive landscapes.

Woven Threads, Not Identical Ones

Verse 3 speaks directly to the heart of our community:

“One in Christ, though gifts are many, / Woven threads in one design; / None are lost and none are empty, / All are needed, all are Thine.”

In a world that often demands “normalcy,” Pentecost celebrates the opposite. It is the day the Church was born in a chaotic, beautiful explosion of different voices and languages. For the neurodivergent person, this is a reminder that you aren’t a “tangled thread”—you are a necessary part of the design. Like the salmon seeking the river, we all have “ancient ways” of returning home to ourselves and to God.

Raising the Temple

We’ve chosen to use the phrase “raise our temple” in Verse 5. A temple is more than a steeple; it is a space of indwelling. Whether your “temple” is a quiet room, a forest path, or a bustling parish, the Spirit is the foundation. As we prepare for Pentecost, we pray for a “holy speech” that doesn’t necessarily mean loud preaching, but an authentic expression of the truth that lights our days.

For Your Parish

If you are a musician or a member of a local congregation, we invite you to bring this hymn to your community this Pentecost. It is set to the familiar, rolling melody of The Salley Gardens (with Nettleton as a more energetic alternative).

Let us pray that this Pentecost, the Wind of God doesn’t just “restore our land,” but restores our sense of wonder in how we are made.

Musical Note for the Organ Bench

The Salley Gardens tune offers a gentle, folk-like pacing that allows the imagery to settle. If you’re playing it this Sunday, try to let the melody “breathe” like the Atlantic wind mentioned in the first verse.