Hymns
New songs for ancient truths.
Original compositions and lyrical theology that find a voice in the Anglican tradition and the neurodivergent experience. These are melodies for the quiet keeping and the communal heart.
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A quiet hour by the Shannon – “By Shannon’s holy, flowing tide (Common Metre)
St Mary’s Cathedral in Limerick is depicted as a sacred space where faith, memory, and community intertwine, inspiring continuous worship. Continue reading
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“At Evening, God Has Spoken”: A Vespers Hymn on Psalm 110 (76 76 D)
110 has long been one of the traditional psalms of Sunday Vespers. My new hymn, At Evening, God Has Spoken, reflects on that ancient text through the quiet landscapes of the Irish midlands—heathered hills, the Barrow’s waters, and the stillness of evening prayer—resting in Christ our High King through the night. Continue reading
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From Desert Paths to Living Water: A Lenten Invitation – “By stony paths in desert lands” (88 88 D)
The congregational hymn reflects on spiritual thirst, Christ’s grace, and our Lenten journey from doubt to faith, inviting renewal and reconciliation. Continue reading
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Braided Grace—A Hymn on Psalm 129 – “Long have burdens pressed upon us” (87 87 D)
Despite suffering and oppression, God’s enduring faithfulness and promise bring hope, resilience, and strength to His people. Continue reading
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One Faith, One Hope, One Lord: A Hymn for Unity
The hymn prayerfully calls for unity in the Church, invoking the Holy Spirit to heal divisions and reaffirm faith in Christ. Continue reading
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A Hymn of Soil, Saint, and Sacrament – “Here the fields of Erin whisper” (87 87 D)
This hymn celebrates Christ’s presence in creation, uniting diverse traditions in peace and reconciliation through Eucharistic imagery and Celtic spirituality. Continue reading
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Singing Psalm 98 in an Irish Key
“Sing to the Lord a new song…” Psalm 98 is not shy. It is tidal. It calls rivers to clap their hands and hills to sing for joy. It insists that creation itself is caught up in praise—not as backdrop, but as choir. In the Anglican tradition, Psalm 98 can be used at Evensong as… Continue reading
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Writing a Hymn—and Learning Stabilitas Overnight
This hymn didn’t emerge in a chapel. It came overnight. In silence. In storm. In the unbuilt monastery of the mind. “Wild winds rise fierce across the plain,My refuge be.” The imagery came quickly. But the deeper formation came slowly—as most Benedictine things do. I’m part of a Benedictine community without walls. We are dispersed… Continue reading
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Unknown Paths, Rising Hills: Writing a Hymn for the Second Sunday in Lent (Year A) — “You call us out to unknown paths” (CM)
You call us out to unknown paths You call us out to unknown paths,Like Abram long ago;Through mist along the Barrow’s bends,Your pilgrim people go.You lift our eyes to rising hills,Where skylarks greet the dawn;Your keeping shade, like hawthorn’s bough,Stands guard till night is gone.Not by our striving, strength, or claimBut gift of grace alone,You… Continue reading
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🌿 Morning Reflection for 25 February
Inspired by the appointed readings and psalmody The morning opens gently, the way dawn often does in Ireland—grey first, then slowly revealing colour. The psalms speak of trembling bones, weary eyes, and the long nights when the pillow is wet with tears. Anyone who has ever lain awake listening to the rain on a Kildare… Continue reading
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A hymn inspired by 1 John 4:18: “Across the bog and standing stone” (DCM)
The hymn expresses the power of perfect love to dispel fear, connecting Celtic faith with the assurance that love meets us amidst our complexities and challenges. Continue reading
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Rescued. Renewed. Rejoicing. A hymn inspired by Psalm 116— “I love the Lord who heard my cry” (DLM)
The hymn reflects on Psalm 116, expressing gratitude for God’s mercy and presence in vulnerability, emphasizing healing, peace, and hope amid life’s struggles. Continue reading
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A hymn about Grace in humble things — “In quiet parks at break of day” (CM)
The hymn reflects on discovering God’s presence in everyday moments, emphasizing the beauty of ordinary experiences that reveal grace and the gradual manifestation of the Kingdom of God. Continue reading
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A hymn for Lauds for St Vincent of Saragossa — “At sunrise over Kildare’s fields” (Long Metre)
At sunrise over Kildare’s fields 1At sunrise over Kildare’s fields,Where Brigid’s flame begins the day,Saint Vincent, servant of the poor,Guide us to walk Christ’s morning way.2You bore God’s mercy to the weak,A deacon steadfast, calm, and true;Like oaks that greet the breaking light,May we stand firm and faithful too.3From Saragossa’s rugged pathsYour martyr‑courage shone so… Continue reading
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Berries. Stones. Songs.
There are moments when ancient scripture meets the landscapes that formed us, and something quietly transformative happens. This newly written hymn, inspired by Psalm 137, does exactly that—taking the ache of exile and setting it among the Glens of Antrim, where memory, belonging, and spiritual resonance run deep. Rather than retelling the psalm’s sorrow in… Continue reading
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Heron. Curlew. Peace. – “By the Shannon’s flowing waters” (Double Common Metre)
A congregational hymn inspired by St Munchin, Limerick’s patron, who exemplifies quiet community building, hospitality, and steady faith, inspiring love and welcome in ordinary places. Continue reading
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Glory. Courage. Year’s‑End: A Hymn for St Sylvester’s Day – “O Christ, the Light of every year” (Common Metre)
A hymn for St Sylvester’s Day — the quiet hinge between year’s-end and Christmastide light. In the glow of Bethlehem and the steadiness of pastoral care, we find courage for the turning of time. With new words for old paths, this post honours the holiness of showing up, even in storm-tossed days. Continue reading
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Mary. Vision. Light: A hymn for St Egwin’s Day – “In Bethlehem’s still-shining night” (Long Metre)
The hymn honorus Saint Egwin of Worcester, celebrating his peaceful life, faith, and the hope of Christmas amidst winter’s quiet. Continue reading
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Swords. Martyr. Light: A hymn for St Thomas Becket’s Day — “In Christmas light Your servants stand” (LM)
On the fifth day of Christmas, the light of the manger meets the courage of a martyr. Thomas Becket’s witness invites us to consider what it means to stand for truth with a steady, compassionate heart. His story reminds us that Christmas peace is not passive but brave, and that even in a world shaped… Continue reading
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Sorrow. Mercy. Peace: A hymn for the Holy Innocents — “Christ, whose star still burns with mercy” (87 87 87)
One star. One silence. One prayer. On the fourth day of Christmas, we remember the Holy Innocents—children lost to violence, grief held in the heart of the season. This hymn is a quiet offering: a song for mercy, healing, and the fragile hope that still flickers in the dark. Continue reading
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