Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.
Refrain:
Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony,
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.
2 Show me the tomb where Thou wast laid,
Tenderly mourned and wept;
Angels in robes of light arrayed
Guarded Thee whilst Thou slept.
3 Let me like Mary, thru the gloom,
Come with a gift to Thee;
Show to me now the empty tomb-
Lead me to Calvary.
4 May I be willing, Lord, to bear
Daily my cross for Thee;
Even Thy cup of grief to share-
Thou hast borne all for me.
"Lead Me to Calvary" is a tender and devotional hymn written by Jennie Evelyn Hussey in 1921. A lifelong Quaker who lived with physical disability and chronic pain, Hussey penned this hymn out of deep personal devotion to Christ and a desire to stay near the story of His suffering and sacrifice. The hymn reflects a heartfelt plea to remain close to the cross—not only to remember Christ’s suffering, but also to live a life of humble service and surrender in response to His love.
The hymn begins with a call to remembrance: “King of my life, I crown Thee now, Thine shall the glory be; Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow, lead me to Calvary.” These lines emphasize the importance of never forgetting Christ’s suffering on behalf of sinners. Each stanza builds on this theme of remembering—His agony, His love, His burial—and recognizing the cost of redemption. The repeated refrain, “Lest I forget… lead me to Calvary,” serves as a spiritual anchor, drawing the heart back to the place where mercy and grace were poured out.
Musically, the tune (composed by William J. Kirkpatrick) is both meditative and earnest, matching the introspective tone of the lyrics. It evokes a sense of reverence and a longing to remain in Christ’s presence. This combination of heartfelt poetry and expressive melody has made “Lead Me to Calvary” a cherished selection for Lenten services, communion observances, and times of personal reflection, particularly during Holy Week.
More than a hymn of remembrance, it’s also a call to action. The final stanza speaks of willingness to bear shame, share the cross, and follow Christ in suffering and service: “May I be willing, Lord, to bear daily my cross for Thee.” In this way, the hymn not only invites believers to meditate on Christ’s passion but also to respond with lives of gratitude, sacrifice, and faithfulness, keeping the message of Calvary alive in word and deed.
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