The Pillar of the Cloud

The following poem, The Pillar of the Cloud, was written by noted Anglican theologian John Henry Newman (1801-1890). This poem, which became a popular hymn, was inspired by a journey from Palermo, Italy to Marseille, France in an orange boat which was becalmed in the Strait of Bonifacio on June 16, 1833. Newman had just recovered from a serious fever and was returning to England convinced that God had important work for him there, yet there he sat waiting for wind to power the orange boat out of the strait.

Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home—
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet: I do not ask to see
The distant scene, —one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor pray’d that Thou
Shouldst lead me on.
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will; remember not past years.

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on,
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone;
And with the morn those angel faces smile
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

Newman returned to help found the Oxford Movement which sought to bring the Church of England back in line with its more Catholic roots (some might say the early Christian tradition baby thrown out with the Reformation bath water). Though at the point he wrote the poem above Newman still described Rome as "polytheistic, degrading and idolatrous," in time he converted to Roman Catholicism and was named a Cardinal.

But we see in the poem that Newman, who would return to England to find himself leading the movement which did guide the church back into neglected traditions which had nourished centuries of Christians, first committed himself to following Christ one step at a time.