Will Your Anchor Hold (We Have an Anchor )

This is a nautical-themed hymn about faith in Jesus Christ.  It is inspired by Hebrews 6:19 "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast...". This verse was adopted as the motto of the Boy's Brigade, a Scottish-founded but now international interdenominational Christian youth organisation, and the hymn is now strongly associated with the Brigade.

The words were written by American Methodist Episcopal church member Priscilla Jane Owens (1829-1907) and the hymn was first published in 1882.

With meter of 10 9 10 9 and refrain, it is set to the tune WILL YOUR ANCHOR HOLD by William James Kirkpatrick (1838-1921).



Downloads

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Examples

Massed choir with brass-band - recorded for a TV show:


Choir with organ:


Unaccompanied, close harmony - professional recording:


Choir with organ - professional recording:


Singer with band, professional recording:


Boys Brigage choir with band:


Singer with piano, on-screen lyrics:


Instrumental - organ:


Lyrics

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

Refrain:
We have an anchor that keeps the soul 
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll, 
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move, 
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.

It is safely moored, ’twill the storm withstand,
For ’tis well secured by the Saviour’s hand;
And the cables, passed from His heart to mine,
Can defy that blast, thro’ strength divine.

It will surely hold in the Straits of Fear—
When the breakers have told that the reef is near;
Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,
Not an angry wave shall our bark o’erflow.

It will firmly hold in the Floods of Death—-
When the waters cold chill our latest breath,
On the rising tide it can never fail,
While our hopes abide within the Veil.

When our eyes behold through the gath’ring night
The city of gold, our harbor bright,
We shall anchor fast by the heav’nly shore,
With the storms all past forevermore.

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