Words: (1808-1889).

Music: Con­is­bo­rough, Wil­frid San­der­son, 1919.

If you know when this hymn was writ­ten, or have ac­cess to a pho­to of Wilf­rid San­der­son that we could put on­line


In the still air the music lies unheard;
In the rough marble beauty hides unseen.
To make the music and the beauty needs
The Master’s touch, the Sculptor’s chisel keen.

Great Master, touch us with Thy skillful hands;
Let not the music that is in us die;
Great Sculptor, hew and polish us, nor let
Hidden and lost, Thy form within us lie.

Spare not the stroke; do with us what Thou wilt;
Let there be naught unfinished, broken, marred;
Complete Thy purpose that we may become
Thy perfect image—Thou our God and Lord.