Saviour, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise Lyrics John Ellerton, 1866
3 verses, public domain, free to print and project.
The words
Verse 1. Savior, again to thy dear name we raise
With one accord our parting hymn of praise;
We rise to bless thee ere our worship cease,
And now, departing, wait thy word of peace.
Verse 2. Grant us thy peace upon our homeward way;
With thee begun, with thee shall end the day;
Guard thou the lips from sin, the hearts from shame,
That in this house have called upon thy name.
Verse 3. Grant us thy peace, Lord, through the coming night;
Turn thou for us its darkness into light;
From harm and danger keep thy children free,
For dark and light are both alike to thee.
Words copied from The Otterbein Hymnal (1892). They were published in 1866, so they are in the public domain in the United States, and your church may print them, show them and sing them without a license.
The hymn library's slide and print features are made by Church Posting.
The story behind Saviour, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise
John Ellerton wrote this hymn in 1866 as the closing hymn for the festival of the Malpas, Middlewich and Nantwich Choral Association. He cut it from six stanzas to four for the 1868 Appendix to the original Hymns Ancient and Modern. Ellerton served as a curate and rector in several English parishes. He edited Church Hymns with Bishop How in 1871 and wrote or translated about 80 hymns. Julian's Dictionary of Hymnology calls this one of his most beautiful and tender hymns.
Hymnals use it as a dismissal hymn before the benediction, especially in evening worship. Hymnary says the last stanza alone is used at funerals, and it was sung at Ellerton's own funeral on June 20, 1893. Hymnary lists Psalm 139:12, John 14:27 and Philippians 4:7 as Scripture references.
The tune is ELLERS by Edward J. Hopkins. It was first published in 1869 in Brown-Borthwick's Supplemental Hymn and Tune Book. The four-part setting most hymnals print comes from Hopkins's arrangement in the 1872 Appendix to the Bradford Tune Book. Hopkins was organist at the Temple Church in London from 1843 for about fifty-five years. The words date to 1866 and the tune to 1869, so the pairing came afterward. Hymnary lists G major in most hymnals and A flat major as the tune's own key.
John Ellerton
1826-12-16 to 1893-06-15
John Ellerton was born in London on December 16, 1826, and died in Torquay on June 15, 1893. He studied at King William's College on the Isle of Man and at Trinity College, Cambridge, and was ordained in the Church of England in 1851. He served several parishes, including Crewe Green, Hinstock, Barnes and White Roding, and became an honorary canon of St. Albans in 1892. He wrote or translated about 80 hymns and edited Church Hymns with Bishop How in 1871. He wrote Saviour, Again to Thy Dear Name in 1866.
Edward J. Hopkins
1818 to 1901
Edward John Hopkins (1818 to 1901) was born in Westminster, the son of a clarinetist. He was a chorister at the Chapel Royal from 1826 and became organist at Mitcham Church at age 16. From 1843 he served as organist and choirmaster at the Temple Church in London for about fifty-five years. Hymnary dates his tune ELLERS to 1869, first published in Brown-Borthwick's Supplemental Hymn and Tune Book. Hymnary lists it in 743 hymnals, and its usual text is John Ellerton's Saviour, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise.
- Hymnary.org: Savior, again to your dear name we raise (Psalter Hymnal 319 notes) , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org: ELLERS (Hopkins) , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org: John Ellerton , read 2026-10-16
Scripture in Saviour, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise
The Bible passages behind the words.
- Psalm 139:12
- John 14:27
- Philippians 4:7
Saviour, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise videos
-
Saviour, Again, to Thy Dear Name We Raise (Tune: Ellers - 4vv) [with lyrics for congregations] Chet Valley Hymns and Songs, Congregation
-
Saviour, again to thy dear name we raise ('Ellers') | The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge, Choir
-
E.J. Hopkins: Saviour, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise (Ellers) Wells Cathedral Choir - Topic, Choir
Videos play from YouTube, and nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. A video may sing different verses from the ones printed on this page.
Print and project
For Sunday
- Slides for Saviour, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise All 3 verses. Full screen, or a PowerPoint file that ProPresenter and Keynote open.
- Add it to a bulletin Opens the bulletin maker with Saviour, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise in the order of service.
- Add it to a funeral program Opens the funeral program maker with this hymn in the order of service.
Chords and keys
Hymnals print it in G or A♭.
Questions people ask
Who wrote Saviour, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise?
John Ellerton wrote it in 1866 for a choral festival. He shortened it from six stanzas to four in 1868.
When is Saviour, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise sung?
Hymnals use it as a dismissal hymn before the benediction, especially in evening worship. The last stanza alone is sometimes used at funerals.
Who composed the tune ELLERS?
Edward J. Hopkins wrote ELLERS, first published in 1869. He was organist at the Temple Church in London from 1843.
Is Saviour, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise in the public domain?
Yes. The words are public domain in the United States, first published in 1866. Hopkins's tune dates to 1869 and is public domain as well.
On this page