I remember when I was a kid and for some reason watched TV until after The Late Late Show. When the station ended it’s broadcasting day it would do a beautiful Navy Choir acapella rendition of the Sailor’s Prayer Hymn (unsure if that is the name) that verse would belong to.
"Eternal Father, Strong to Save" is a British hymn traditionally associated with seafarers, particularly in the maritime armed services. Written in 1860, its author William Whiting was inspired by the dangers of the sea described in Psalm 107. It was popularised by the Royal Navy and the United States Navy in the late 19th century, and variations of it were soon adopted by many branches of the armed services in the United Kingdom and the United States.
In 1940, the US Episcopal Church altered 3 verses of the hymn to include travel on the land in the 2nd verse (referencing Psalm 50) and in the air in the 3rd verse (again referencing Genesis). This was published as Hymn No. 513 while the original lyrics were also published as Hymn No. 512 in The Hymnal 1940. The Hymnal 1982, which is in current use by most Episcopal congregations in the US, has further revised this version (as Hymn #579) with opening line "Almighty Father, strong to save..." by adding the word "space" to the final verse, so it ends "Glad praise from space, air, land, and sea", acknowledging the possibility of space travel.
Thank you for the history of that stirring and lovely hymn.
The best performance is by the Naval Academy’s MENS choir at the chapel in Annapolis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1795Xg4CRC8
This is not at the Naval Academy but pretty damn stirring. Leaves a lump in my throat whenever I hear it.
Thank you so very much for the awesome patriotic history lesson; prayers that it touch many a weary soul and turn them toward Christ.
I’ve been watching U.S. manned (and unmanned) spaceflight tests and missions since 1968 from age 3.
Dear Lord God, please protect and bring our astronauts safely home. Amen.