Farewell Service

Hymns, readings and a printed program for a Christian funeral

Lead, Kindly Light

by John Henry Newman (1801–1890)

Reads in about 1 minute18 linesChristian

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Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on.
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on.
I loved the garish day; and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost a while

About this text

Poet
John Henry Newman, 1801–1890
Printing used
Poems That Every Child Should Know, ed. Mary E. Burt (1904); written 1833
First published
1833
Public domain
This printing 1904, before 1931
Often chosen
for a man, for a woman, christian