We Have an Anchor

“We Have an Anchor” is a bold and encouraging hymn written in 1882 by Priscilla Jane Owens, a dedicated Sunday school teacher and hymn writer from Baltimore, Maryland. Owens, known for her contributions to children’s Christian education, penned this hymn to communicate the steadfast hope found in Christ. Drawing directly from Hebrews 6:19, the hymn uses nautical imagery to convey the unshakeable security of the believer’s hope in the Savior — a spiritual anchor that holds firm in all the storms of life.

Owens’s inspiration came during a time when maritime travel and imagery were common and vivid metaphors for life’s journey. In the hymn, the Christian is likened to a ship tossed on the sea. Life’s tempests and trials threaten to overwhelm the soul, but Christ — the anchor — keeps the believer from drifting or sinking. This powerful picture of spiritual stability reflects the biblical promise that our hope in Christ is “both sure and stedfast,” anchored not in shifting circumstances but in the very presence of God.

The first verse introduces the central metaphor: “Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?” It is both a question and a challenge to examine the foundation of one’s faith. The following lines affirm that the anchor provided by Christ will indeed “fasten to the Rock which cannot move,” referencing Christ as the unchanging Rock of salvation (Psalm 18:2). The answer to the hymn’s question is a confident yes — if the soul is anchored in Him.

Each verse builds upon this assurance. The second verse reminds the singer that when the winds of temptation and fear blow strong, the anchor remains unshaken. The language is vivid: “tempests rage and the wild winds blow,” but the anchor — Christ — holds firm. This echoes the promises of Isaiah 43:2 and Matthew 7:24-25, where God promises to preserve His people through floods and storms when they are grounded in Him.

The third stanza takes the hymn higher — literally — by picturing the anchor “passing from the strait, into the realm divine.” This imagery alludes to the believer's hope entering “within the veil,” as Hebrews 6:19 states, where Christ, our High Priest, has entered before us. The believer’s hope is not just for this life but reaches into eternity. The anchor is not fastened to anything on earth, but to the very throne of God in heaven — unchangeable, eternal, and sovereign.

These lines serve as both confession and comfort, affirming the absolute trustworthiness of Christ as the soul’s foundation. The repetition ensures the message is internalized — that no matter the trial, the believer is secure in the love and power of Jesus.

The hymn was set to music by William J. Kirkpatrick, a prolific composer and collaborator in many gospel hymn collections of the 19th century. His melody is strong, marching, and upbeat — perfectly matching the hymn’s message of confidence and spiritual strength. Its tone calls worshipers not just to meditate, but to sing with assurance and victory.

“We Have an Anchor” has been a favorite in evangelical and revivalist traditions, especially among those emphasizing the security of the believer in Christ. It is often sung in settings where faith is being tested or affirmed — in baptisms, funerals, missionary send-offs, and worship gatherings focused on perseverance. Its use of concrete imagery, scriptural foundation, and strong melody make it a hymn that has endured across generations.

In a world where so much seems uncertain, “We Have an Anchor” continues to point believers to the unshakable truth that Christ holds His people fast. Storms may come, winds may blow, but those anchored in the Savior’s love will never drift, never sink, and never be lost.