Draw Us in the Spirit's Tether

“Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether” is a richly theological and deeply devotional hymn written by Percy Dearmer in 1917. Dearmer, an Anglican priest and liturgical scholar, was deeply concerned with the unity of the Church and the recovery of worship that was both beautiful and faithful to Scripture. This hymn reflects those concerns with remarkable clarity, presenting Christian unity not as a human achievement but as a spiritual work accomplished by the Holy Ghost.

The central image of the hymn is that of believers being drawn together by the Spirit of God. The word “tether” suggests a binding that is gentle yet secure, not restrictive but life giving. This imagery echoes Christ’s prayer for His people, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee” (John 17:21, KJV). Unity, in Dearmer’s vision, flows from shared life in Christ rather than from organizational conformity. The Spirit draws believers into fellowship with Christ and, through Him, into true fellowship with one another.

A strong sacramental theme runs throughout the hymn, especially in its reference to the sharing of “one bread” and “one cup.” This language is firmly rooted in Scripture, “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:17, KJV). Dearmer emphasizes that Christian unity is nourished and sustained at the Lord’s Table, where believers are reminded that their common life is grounded in the self giving love of Christ.

The hymn also points forward in hope. It looks beyond present divisions to the final fulfillment of unity in the kingdom of God. The Spirit who draws believers together now is the same Spirit who prepares them for eternal fellowship in Christ. In this way, the hymn serves as both a prayer and a confession of faith, calling the Church to live out the unity that God has already declared in Christ. “Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether” remains a profound expression of biblical unity, worship, and love rooted firmly in the teaching of Scripture.