Three months ago, we marked the anniversary of the publication of The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. And the great author's name comes up again today, this time in connection with a poem he wrote during his long imprisonment. A century ago, an Anglican priest adapted Bunyan's words. They were set to Monk's Gate, a traditional Sussex melody arranged by the great Ralph Vaughn Williams, and were included in the hugely influential imprint from Oxford University Press, The English Hymnal 1906.



That Anglican cleric, a scholar of Westminster and Christ Church, vicar of Saint Mary the Virgin, author, missionary, military chaplain, professor of ecclesiastical art, and canon of Westminster Abbey, Percy Dearmer, died in London on this date in 1936 and is buried in the Abbey. He wrote or translated others, and in fact edited The English Hymnal, but this hymn is his most widely known. It remains a standard of schools and choirs and has been extensively recorded. My memory is that it was chosen for the state funeral of Winston Churchill, and it was sung at the ordination of Rev. George William Rutler as a Roman Catholic priest.



He who would valiant be ’gainst all disaster,

Let him in constancy follow the Master.

There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent

His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.



Who so beset him round with dismal stories

Do but themselves confound—his strength the more is.

No foes shall stay his might; though he with giants fight,

He will make good his right to be a pilgrim.



Since, Lord, Thou dost defend us with Thy Spirit,

We know we at the end, shall life inherit.

Then fancies flee away! I’ll fear not what men say,

I’ll labor night and day to be a pilgrim.