This edition was prepared by John Henry Fowler — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Houghton-le-Spring
Staff Notation • Sacred, Hymns
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Houghton-le-Spring by Samuel Sebastian Wesley — Lyrics
1.
Bread of Heav’n on Thee we feed,
For Thy flesh is meat indeed:
Ever may our souls be fed
With this true and living Bread;
Day by day with strength supplied,
Through the life of Him Who died.
2.
Vine of Heav’n, Thy blood supplies
This blest cup of sacrifice,
Lord, Thy wounds our healing give,
To Thy cross we look and live:
Jesus, may we ever be
Grafted, rooted, built in Thee.
Lyrics: Josiah Conder, The Star in the East, 1824 (altered).
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About Houghton-le-Spring
This hymn setting by Samuel Sebastian Wesley is ideal for a communion service. The text, adapted from Josiah Conder’s The Star in the East (1824), speaks profoundly of the Eucharist. The choir, singing in SATB, will convey the deep spiritual nourishment offered by Christ, referred to as the Bread of Heaven and the Vine of Heaven. The lyrics explore the themes of spiritual sustenance and sacrifice, with the second verse focusing on the redeeming power of Christ’s blood and the communal act of receiving communion. Wesley’s composition would offer a reflective and devotional moment for any congregation.
