When I was at school in Brentwood, Essex UK, we sang this hymn to St Barnabas to the tune of Londonderry Air:

O Son of God, our Captain of salvation,
thyself by suffering schooled to human grief,
we bless thee for thy sons of consolation,
who follow in the steps of thee their Chief.
Those whom thy Spirit's dread vocation severs
to lead the vanguard of thy conquering host;
whose toilsome years are spent in brave endeavours
to bear thy saving Name from coast to coast.

Those whose bright faith makes feeble hearts grow stronger,
and sends fresh warriors to the great campaign,
bids the lone convert feel estranged no longer,
and wins the sundered to be one again;
And all true helpers, patient, kind, and skillful,
who shed thy light across our darkened earth,
counsel the doubting, and restrain the willful,
soothe the sick bed, and share the children's mirth.

So Barnabas, the son of consolation
who cast his all at thine apostles' feet;
he whose new name, through every Christian nation,
from age to age our thankful strains repeat.
Thus, Lord, thy saint in holy memory keeping,
still be thy Church's watchword, "Comfort ye,"
till in our Father's house shall end our weeping,
and all our wants be satisfied in thee.


Words: John Ellerton, 1871
Music: Londonderry Air, Strength and Stay, St. Osyth

Alan