O Breath of life, come sweeping through us
O Breath of life, come sweeping through us. Bessie Porter Head* (1850-1936).
This hymn first appeared in the author’s collection of prose and verse, Heavenly Places, and other Messages (1920). It was published in five stanzas in the Keswick Hymn-Book (1938) and its successor Keswick Praise (1975), and became widely known from its being sung at the Keswick Convention, held annually at Keswick, Cumbria since 1875. It is frequently shortened to three stanzas, omitting stanzas 4 and 5. The full text was:
O Breath of life, come sweeping through us, Revive thy church with life and power;O Breath of life, come, cleanse, renew us, And fit thy church to meet this hour.
O Wind of God, come, bend...
If you have a valid subscription to Dictionary of Hymnology, please log inlog in to view this content. If you require a subscription, please click here.
MLA style (see MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, 3rd Ed.)
. "O Breath of life, come sweeping through us."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press. Web. 12 Jul. 2025.<
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/o/o-breath-of-life,-come-sweeping-through-us>.
Chicago style (see The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Ed.)
. "O Breath of life, come sweeping through us."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press, accessed July 12, 2025,
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/o/o-breath-of-life,-come-sweeping-through-us.