Thanks for being a Hymnary.org user. You are one of more than 10 million people from 200-plus countries around the world who have benefitted from the Hymnary website in 2024! If you feel moved to support our work today with a gift of any amount and a word of encouragement, we would be grateful.

You can donate online at our secure giving site.

Or, if you'd like to make a gift by check, please make it out to CCEL and mail it to:
Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 3201 Burton Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
And may the promise of Advent be yours this day and always.

Click here to donate to Hymnary.org I have already donated. Please don't show this to me again

Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us

View this hymn using FlexPresent: Hymnary.org's free tool provides this hymn's music notationand lyrics synchronized with its audio

Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us, Over the world's tempestuous sea

Author: James Edmeston (1821)
Published in 355 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Playable presentation: Lyrics only, lyrics + music
Audio files: MIDI, Recording

Song available on My.Hymnary

FlexScore

FlexScore

Piano/Organ

Hymns of Joy

Choral

O Sanctissima/ O How Joyfully

Representative Text

1 Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
o'er the world's tempestuous sea;
guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
for we have no help but thee;
yet possessing every blessing,
if our God our Father be.

2 Saviour, breathe forgiveness o'er us:
all our weakness thou dost know;
thou didst tread this earth before us,
thou didst feel its keenest woe;
lone and dreary, faint and weary,
through the desert thou didst go.

3 Spirit of our God, descending,
fill our hearts with heavenly joy,
love with every passion blending,
pleasure that can never cloy:
thus provided, pardoned, guided,
nothing can our peace destroy.

Source: Ancient and Modern: hymns and songs for refreshing worship #702

All representative texts • Compare texts^ top

Author: James Edmeston

Edmeston, James, born Sept. 10, 1791. His maternal grandfather was the Rev. Samuel Brewer, who for 50 years was the pastor of an Independent congregation at Stepney. Educated as an architect and surveyor, in 1816 he entered upon his profession on his own account, and continued to practice it until his death on Jan. 7, 1867. The late Sir G. Gilbert Scott was his pupil. Although an Independent by descent he joined the Established Church at a comparatively early age, and subsequently held various offices, including that of churchwarden, in the Church of St. Barnabas, Homerton. His hymns number nearly 2000. The best known are “Lead us, Heavenly Father, lead us” and "Saviour, breathe an evening blessing." Many of his hymns were written for c… Go to person page >

^ top

Text Information

Related Texts

First Line: Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us, Over the world's tempestuous sea
Title: Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us
Author: James Edmeston (1821)
Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.7
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain
^ top

Notes

Lead us, Heavenly Father, lead us. J. Edmeston. [Holy Trinity—Invocation of.] Appeared in his Sacred Lyrics, set two, 1821, in 3 stanzas of 7 lines, and entitled "Hymn, Written for the Children of the London Orphan Asylum (Air Lewes)." In 1858 it was included in the Baptist Psalms & Hymns, No. 564, and from that date it has grown gradually into favour until it has attained to a foremost place amongst modern hymns in all English-speaking countries. It is generally given in a correct and complete form as in Thring’s Collection, 1882. It has been rendered into several languages, including Latin. The Rev. R. Bingham, in his Hymnologia Christiana Latina, 1871, has translated it as "Due nos, Genitor Coelestis."

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

^ top

Timeline

^ top

Media

You have access to this FlexScore.
Download:
Are parts of this score outside of your desired range? Try transposing this FlexScore.
General Settings
Stanza Selection
Voice Selection
Text size:
Music size:
Transpose (Half Steps):
Capo:
Contacting server...
Contacting server...
Questions? Check out the FAQ

A separate copy of this score must be purchased for each choir member. If this score will be projected or included in a bulletin, usage must be reported to a licensing agent (e.g. CCLI, OneLicense, etc).

This is a preview of your FlexScore.
The Cyber Hymnal #3619
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)
Small Church Music #6967
  • PDF Score (PDF)
^ top

Instances

Instances (1 - 100 of 355)

A Church of England Hymn Book #307

A Church of England Hymn Book #307
Page Scan

A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship. (45th ed.) #723

A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship. (45th ed.) #723

A Liturgy for the New Church #d56

A Liturgy for the New Church #d56

A Liturgy for the New Church. 3rd ed. #d56

A Liturgy for the New Church. 3rd ed. #d56
Page Scan

A New Hymnal for Sunday Schools #39

A New Hymnal for Sunday Schools #39
Page Scan

A Selection of Spiritual Songs #135

A Selection of Spiritual Songs #135
Page Scan

A Selection of Spiritual Songs #37

A Selection of Spiritual Songs #37
TextPage Scan

African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #547

African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #547
Text

Ancient and Modern #702

Ancient and Modern #702

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #422

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #422
Page Scan

At Worship #223

At Worship #223

Australian Hymn Book #492

Australian Hymn Book #492

Book of Common Praise #d304

Book of Common Praise #d304
Page Scan

Book of Hymns and Tunes, comprising the psalms and hymns for the worship of God, approved by the general assembly of 1866, arranged with appropriate tunes... by authority of the assembly of 1873 #368e

Book of Hymns and Tunes, comprising the psalms and hymns for the worship of God, approved by the general assembly of 1866, arranged with appropriate tunes... by authority of the assembly of 1873 #368e

Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs with Music for the Church and the Choir #d478

Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs with Music for the Church and the Choir #d478

Cân a Mawl #227b

Cân a Mawl #227b
Page Scan

Carmina Sanctorum, a selection of hymns and songs of praise with tunes #392

Carmina Sanctorum, a selection of hymns and songs of praise with tunes #392
Page Scan

Carmina Sanctorum #392

Carmina Sanctorum #392

Children's Hymnal #57

Children's Hymnal #57
Page Scan

Christian Hymn and Tune Book, for use in Churches, and for Social and Family Devotions #507

Christian Hymn and Tune Book, for use in Churches, and for Social and Family Devotions #507

Christian Praise #285a

Christian Praise #285a

Christian Praise #285b

Christian Praise #285b
Page Scan

Christian Praise #34

Christian Praise #34

Christian Worship and Praise #d215

Christian Worship and Praise #d215
Page Scan

Church and Sunday School Hymnal with Supplement #431

Church and Sunday School Hymnal with Supplement #431

Church Family Worship #111

Church Family Worship #111
Page Scan

Church Hymnal #525

Church Hymnal #525

Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #652

Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #652

Church Hymnal, Fourth Edition #501

Church Hymnal, Fourth Edition #501

Church Hymnal, Third Edition #504

Church Hymnal, Third Edition #504

Church Hymns and Services, Published under License of the Church Pension Fund #d124

Church Hymns and Services, Published under License of the Church Pension Fund #d124
Page Scan

Church Hymns and Tunes #417a

Church Hymns and Tunes #417a
Page Scan

Church Hymns and Tunes #417b

Church Hymns and Tunes #417b

Church Hymns with Tunes #410

Church Hymns with Tunes #410
Page Scan

Church Hymns #456

Church Hymns #456
Page Scan

Church Pastorals, hymns and tunes for public and social worship #516

Church Pastorals, hymns and tunes for public and social worship #516
Page Scan

Columbia University Hymnal #123

Columbia University Hymnal #123
Page Scan

Common Praise (1998) #564

Common Praise (1998) #564
TextPage Scan

Common Praise #496

Common Praise #496
Page Scan

Common Praise #326

Common Praise #326
TextPage Scan

Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church #274

Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church #274
TextPage Scan

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #379a

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #379a
Text

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #379b

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #379b
Page Scan

Complete Mission Praise #400

Complete Mission Praise #400
Page Scan

Cottage Melodies; a hymn and tune book, for prayer and social meetings and the home circle #153

Cottage Melodies; a hymn and tune book, for prayer and social meetings and the home circle #153
TextPage Scan

CPWI Hymnal #424

CPWI Hymnal #424
Page Scan

Evangel Songs #56

Evangel Songs #56
AudioPage Scan

Gloria Deo #110

Gloria Deo #110

Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home and Services for Congregational Worship. Rev. ed. #d340

Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home and Services for Congregational Worship. Rev. ed. #d340
Page Scan

Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home. (Rev. ed.) #178

Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home. (Rev. ed.) #178
Page Scan

Hymn Tunes and Carols #50

Hymn Tunes and Carols #50
Page Scan

Hymn, Tune, and Service Book for Sunday Schools #156

Hymn, Tune, and Service Book for Sunday Schools #156
Page Scan

Hymnal and Canticles of the Protestant Episcopal Church with Music (Gilbert & Goodrich) #506a

Hymnal and Canticles of the Protestant Episcopal Church with Music (Gilbert & Goodrich) #506a
Page Scan

Hymnal and Canticles of the Protestant Episcopal Church with Music (Gilbert & Goodrich) #506b

Hymnal and Canticles of the Protestant Episcopal Church with Music (Gilbert & Goodrich) #506b
Tune InfoAudioPage Scan

Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church #441

Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church #441
Page Scan

Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church #604

Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church #604
Page Scan

Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book with Accompanying Tunes (Second Edition) #467

Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book with Accompanying Tunes (Second Edition) #467
Page Scan

Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book #411a

Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book #411a
Page Scan

Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book #411b

Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book #411b
Page Scan

Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book #411c

Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book #411c
Page Scan

Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book #411d

Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book #411d
Page Scan

Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book #467

Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book #467

Hymnal for Colleges and Schools #233

Hymnal for Colleges and Schools #233

Hymnal for Colleges and Schools. 3rd ed. #d148

Hymnal for Colleges and Schools. 3rd ed. #d148

Hymnal of the Evangelical Church. Word ed. #d385

Hymnal of the Evangelical Church. Word ed. #d385
Page Scan

Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church #445

Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church #445
Page Scan

Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church in Canada #5

Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church in Canada #5

Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church in Canada with Accompanying Tunes #d161

Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church in Canada with Accompanying Tunes #d161

Hymnal of the Reformed Episcopal Church, adopted in General Council, Chicago, May 1879 #d163

Hymnal of the Reformed Episcopal Church, adopted in General Council, Chicago, May 1879 #d163
Text

Hymnal #506

Hymnal #506
Page Scan

Hymnal #506

Hymnal #506
Page Scan

Hymns Ancient and Modern (Standard ed.) #281

Hymns Ancient and Modern (Standard ed.) #281

Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Edition #423

Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Edition #423

Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Standard Edition #224

Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Standard Edition #224

Hymns Ancient and Modern, Revised #311

Hymns Ancient and Modern, Revised #311

Hymns and Prayers for Schools #d30

Hymns and Prayers for Schools #d30

Hymns and Psalms #68a

Hymns and Psalms #68a

Hymns and Psalms #68b

Hymns and Psalms #68b
Page Scan

Hymns and Songs for Social and Sabbath Worship #357

Hymns and Songs for Social and Sabbath Worship #357
Page Scan

Hymns and Songs for Social and Sabbath Worship. (Rev. ed.) #357

Hymns and Songs for Social and Sabbath Worship. (Rev. ed.) #357
Page Scan

Hymns and Songs of Praise for Public and Social Worship #18

Hymns and Songs of Praise for Public and Social Worship #18
Page Scan

Hymns for Children, Selected and Altered #129

Hymns for Children, Selected and Altered #129
Page Scan

Hymns for Christian Melody #936

Hymns for Christian Melody #936

Hymns for Public Worship in the Diocese of Fredericton. 2nd ed. #d102

Hymns for Public Worship in the Diocese of Fredericton. 2nd ed. #d102
Page Scan

Hymns for the Children of the Church #208

Hymns for the Children of the Church #208
Page Scan

Hymns for the Church #387

Hymns for the Church #387
Page Scan

Hymns for the Living Age #263

Hymns for the Living Age #263
Page Scan

Hymns for the Sanctuary and Social Worship #808

Hymns for the Sanctuary and Social Worship #808

Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) #525

Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) #525
TextPage Scan

Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) #595

Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) #595
Text

Hymns for Youth #146

Hymns for Youth #146

Hymns of Faith and Life #403

Hymns of Faith and Life #403
Page Scan

Hymns of Praise and Patriotism #78

Hymns of Praise and Patriotism #78
Page Scan

Hymns of the Advent #381

Hymns of the Advent #381
Page Scan

Hymns of the Ages #157

Hymns of the Ages #157
Page Scan

Hymns of the Ages #157

Hymns of the Ages #157

Hymns of the Christian Life #d205

Hymns of the Christian Life #d205

Hymns of the Christian Life #d202

Hymns of the Christian Life #d202
Page Scan

Hymns of the Christian Life #283

Hymns of the Christian Life #283
Page Scan

Hymns of the Christian Life. No. 3 #216

Hymns of the Christian Life. No. 3 #216

Pages

Exclude 327 pre-1979 instances
All instances^ top
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.