Blest Be the Tie that Binds

Reverend John Fawcett, in 1782, had decided to leave his pastorate and to take up a new pastoral charge in another part of England. While he was concluding the packing of his wagon outside the manse, the people of the congregation pleaded with him not to leave the flock. Seeing and sensing the love and emotion of his people, he turned and said, "Yes, we are staying." Based on that event, he then penned the hymn "Blest Be the Tie that Binds".

Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
Before the Father's throne we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.
We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear,
and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.
When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain;
but we hsall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.