NeuroDivine

A new hymn: In Eden’s dawn the Spirit moved

1.
In Eden’s dawn the Spirit moved
Across the mist‑clad sea;
The currach of the Triune God
Breathed life through oak and lea.

2.
He spoke, and daybreak touched Slieve Bloom
To wake the fox and hare;
The red deer stepped through birch and broom,
And skylarks filled the air.

3.
The waters danced through Barrow’s bends,
The trout leapt in delight;
The otter in the rushes sends
Its praise to God’s first light.

4.
He shaped the soil of Erin’s heart,
The clay of holy ground;
And from that earth He set apart
A garden ringed around.

5.
There rowan, hazel, holly grew,
And primrose starred the glen;
The blackbird sang the morning new
In Eden’s vale again.

6. 
He formed us by His loving hand
Beside the Shannon’s flow;
And breathed His life, so we might stand
Where Celtic breezes blow.

7.
He walked with us through ancient yews,
Through meadows soft and wide;
And taught us how the world He’d choose
Was good on every side.

8.
So let us tend this hallowed earth,
Its creatures, field, and shore;
For God who sang creation’s birth
Still calls us to adore.

Reflection

Genesis 1 and 2 begin with wonder. Before humanity speaks a word, God has filled the world with light, rivers, trees, birds, and every living creature. Creation is God’s first gift, and it is declared “very good.”

This hymn imagines that story through the landscapes of Ireland. The Shannon, Slieve Bloom, rowan, hazel, fox, otter, and blackbird do not replace Eden; they remind us that the same Creator is present wherever His creation is loved and cherished.

The final verse turns from praise to responsibility. We are formed from the earth and entrusted with its care. To tend creation is an act of worship, giving thanks for the beauty God has made and preserving it for those who come after us.

Hymn information

First line: In Eden’s dawn the Spirit moved 
Text: Michael McFarland Campbell
Metre: CM
Tune: St Flavian (Old 132nd)

© 2026 Michael McFarland Campbell. Permission granted for local church use with attribution. Not for commercial reproduction without permission.