A Living Cloud of Irish Witnesses

Hymns celebrating the saints of Ireland

Cover of "A Living Cloud of Irish Witnesses: Hymns for the Saints of Ireland" by Michael McFarland Campbell

“The saints are not distant statues in cathedrals. They are people who walked these same muddy tracks, looked out over these same grey seas, and searched for the same Christ whom we seek today.”

About the Book

The saints of Ireland continue to shape the faith and imagination of the Church. Their stories are woven into the landscapes of Ireland—in monasteries and parish churches, on mountains and islands, beside holy wells, and along ancient pilgrimage paths.

A Living Cloud of Irish Witnesses gathers forty-one original congregational hymns celebrating the lives and witness of the saints commemorated by the Church of Ireland.

Drawing together Scripture, history, and the rich Christian heritage of Ireland, these hymns seek to tell familiar stories in fresh words while remaining rooted in the Church’s worship. Written for congregational singing, they are suitable for parish churches, schools, chaplaincies, retreats, and personal devotion.

Rather than simply remembering the saints of the past, these hymns invite today’s Church to continue their witness with faith, hope, and joy.

Standing in a Living Tradition

The Christian story in Ireland has always been told afresh by each generation.

This collection stands in the slipstream of those who have devoted themselves to preserving and sharing the stories of the saints commemorated in the Church of Ireland calendar. In particular, it honours the foundational work of:

  • Bishop George Otto Simms, whose pioneering work gathered together the commemorations of Irish saints and witnesses.
  • The Revd Brian Mayne, whose expanded research enriched the Church’s understanding of its spiritual inheritance.
  • The Revd Canon Michael Kennedy, whose scholarship and liturgical vision helped shape the commemorations used by the Church today.

These hymns are offered as a twenty-first-century contribution to that same tradition. They seek not to replace the stories that have been handed down, but to let them be sung once more by today’s Church.

Written in gratitude for the saints who shaped our dioceses and communities, they are also written in hope—for the Church that continues their witness in every generation.

Inside the Book

The collection contains original hymns celebrating forty-one saints and Christian witnesses from across Ireland, including:

  • Patrick
  • Brigid
  • Columba
  • Brendan
  • Kevin
  • Columbanus
  • Malachy

Each hymn includes:

  • Familiar hymn metres suitable for congregational singing.
  • Recommended hymn tunes.
  • Rich imagery drawn from the landscapes, seasons, and Christian heritage of Ireland.

Who is this Book for?

This collection will be of interest to:

  • Parish Clergy and Readers.
  • Church musicians and organists.
  • Worship leaders and liturgy planners.
  • Schools and chaplaincies.
  • Retreat centres and religious communities.
  • Those interested in Irish saints and Christian history.
  • Anyone who enjoys congregational hymnody rooted in Scripture.

Book Details

Author
Michael McFarland Campbell

Format
Paperback

Price
€19.99

ISBN
9781291858945

Availability
Available worldwide through Lulu.

A Note from the Author

The saints belong not only to history but to the living worship of the Church.

These hymns were written in the hope that ancient stories might once again become congregational song—that Patrick, Brigid, Columba, Malachy, and so many others might continue to encourage, challenge, and inspire Christians today.

Every generation finds new words for ancient faith. If these hymns help even one congregation to rediscover the richness of Ireland’s Christian heritage in worship, they will have fulfilled their purpose.

Related Books

If you enjoyed this collection, you may also be interested in:

  • A Pilgrim’s Psalter of Earth & Light — congregational hymn paraphrases of all 150 Psalms inspired by the landscapes of Ireland.
  • The Mindful Year (forthcoming) — hymns for the seasons of the Christian year.

Order Your Copy

Paperback

€19.99

Order from Lulu

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