Blest Be the Tie That Binds

John Fawcett was born in England, near Yorkshire, in 1739.  Orphaned at the age of twelve, he apprenticed under a tailor.  As a sixteen-year-old young man, he came to faith under the preaching of George Whitfield.  After a few years as a Methodist, he became a Baptist and felt God’s call to preach. 

Largely self-educated, he became the pastor of a Baptist church in a little town called Wainsgate in 1765.  For seven years he stayed with that little congregation and the miniscule salary they could afford to pay him.  With a growing family and a small salary, it made sense to move when a call came from a much larger Baptist church in London. 

Moving day came.  Men, women, and children of the little congregation helped the young family pack and load crates onto wagons.  Noticing the tears and the grief of the parishioners at losing their beloved pastor John’s wife pulled him to the side and told him, “I cannot bear to leave.  How can we go?”  John confessed to her that he had the same feelings.  Abruptly, he told the men to unload the wagons.

John ministered to the little church in Wainsgate for 54 years, until his death in 1817.  The little congregation never could afford to pay him more than the equivalent of $200 per year, a salary he had to supplement with teaching.  Nevertheless, John Fawcett’s love for his flock compelled him to sacrifice the more prestigious pulpit and stay.  Taking up writing, John published many hymns, volumes of poetry, and theological works.  John often wrote special songs for his congregation, meant to be sung after the sermon as a closing to their time of worship and fellowship together.  The most famous of these was written after his decision to stay at Wainsgate:

Blest be the tie that binds; Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.

Before our Father's throne; We pour our ardent prayers;

Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one; Our comforts and our cares.

When we asunder part; It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart; And hope to meet again.

https://hymnary.org/person/Fawcett_John1740

https://web.archive.org/web/20090213115457/http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2008/002/12.11.html

https://www.ccel.org/ccel/nutter/hymnwriters.FawcettJ.html