"Blest Be the Tie That Binds" John Fawcett John Fawcett (1740-1817) was born of poor parents in Yorkshire, England. He was converted to Christ at the age of sixteen through the ministry of George Whitefield. At twenty-six, he was ordained as a Baptist minister and accepted a call to pastor a small and impoverished congregation in Northern England. After spending several years here where his salary was meager and his family growing, he received a call to succeed the well-known Dr. Gill to minister a large and influential Baptist Church in London. During the departure day, with the saddened parishioners gathered around the wagons, Mrs. Fawcett finally broke down and said, "John, I cannot bear to leave. I know not how to go!" "Nor can I either," said the saddened pastor. The stayed. During one of his sermons Fawcett shared this hymn text with his congregation. The poem was first printed in 1782. Fawcett continued his faithful ministry to these humble people for more than fifty years at a salary estimated at never more than $200 a year. The Peacemaker 1.Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. 2.Before our Father's throne we pour our ardent prayers; our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares. 3.We share each other's woes, our mutual burdens bear; and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear. 4.When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.