NeuroDivine

My hymn of heritage and shared history

History isn’t just something I find in textbooks—it’s woven into the very fields we walk, the layout of our streets, and the collective memory of our communities.

As Ballymena marks its incredible 400th anniversary—tracing all the way back to the 1626 land grant that shaped Kinhiltstown—I’ve been reflecting deeply on what it means for a community to endure, adapt, and thrive through four centuries of change. Although I am Ballymena-born, I now live down in County Kildare, and looking back at my hometown during this milestone year has made me realize just how much our roots anchor us, no matter where life takes us.

To honour this milestone, I wanted to share an original hymn I wrote: A Hymn of Thanksgiving for Ballymena. For me, it’s a poetic journey through the sights, sounds, and spirit of the town, from its linen‑weaving past to the enduring towers of Church Street.

A Hymn of Thanksgiving for Ballymena (Kinhiltstown)

1.
O God who shaped these Antrim fields,
The Braid’s bright running thread;
Whose mercies held Kinhiltstown fast
Through centuries of tread.

2
For bustling days of carts and cries,
For stalls along the square;
For cattle‑rings and linen rolls,
And trade’s familiar air.

3
For Church Street’s towers that still proclaim
Your steadfast, guiding grace—
The Parish tower, the Meeting House,
Both sheltering this place.

4.
For those who came with hope or need,
For those who tilled the land;
For those who built, and those who healed,
And all who lent a hand.

5.
Through seasons marked by toil and grace,
Through change both deep and wide,
Your faithful love has held this town
And walked its streets beside.

6.
So teach our hearts the ancient truth
This town has long held dear:
Post praelia praemia still rings—
Your gifts through work appear. 

Why This Milestone Matters to Me

At NeuroDivine, I often talk about the importance of anchors—the people, places, and routines that give us a sense of safety and belonging in an otherwise fast‑paced world.

For me, Ballymena’s story is a masterclass in resilience. The final stanza highlights the town’s historic motto: Post praelia praemia (After battles, rewards). It serves as a powerful reminder that the struggles of the past often yield the beautiful, bustling communities we enjoy today. Whether my roots in the Seven Towers town go back generations or you are entirely new to its streets, I believe we all share in the legacy of those “who built, and those who healed, and all who lent a hand.”

Happy 400th Anniversary, Ballymena! Let’s keep building, healing, and walking these streets together.

Hymn information 

First line: O God who shaped these Antrim fields
Text: Michael McFarland Campbell
Metre: CM
Tune: Bangor, Crimond, Dundee, Kilmarnock, St Columba

Copyright

© Michael McFarland Campbell. 2026. 
Permission is hereby granted to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council (and associated Ballymena 400 civic committees) for the non-commercial use, reproduction, public reading, or musical performance of this hymn in connection with the Ballymena 400 anniversary celebrations.

Written recently and shared here as part of the NeuroDivine hymn collection.