BREAK THOU THE BREAD OF LIFE - Mary A. Lathbury - William F. Sherwin - Break now the bread of life, dear Lord, to me, as once you broke the loaves beside the sea. Beyond the sacred page I seek you, Lord; my spirit waits for you, O living Word. Bless your own word of truth, dear Lord, to me, as when you blessed the bread by Galilee. Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall; and I shall find my peace, my All in all! You are the bread of life, dear Lord, to me, your holy word the truth that rescues me. Give me to eat and live with you above; teach me to love your truth, for you are love. O send your Spirit now, dear Lord, to me, that he may touch my eyes and make me see. Show me the truth made plain within your Word, for in your book revealed I see you, Lord.

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Break Thou The Bread of Life

Lyrics by Mary A. Lathbury

Music by William F. Sherwin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAZrT8SVYBMBabeDamulag

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPGiVA731lMEasyWorshipResources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAigUNye_jIMetropolitanTabernacleLondonMartijndeGroot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVcH96PYf0Y    orchestraRodSmith

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp8oi0qjanU   pianoHymnsite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCdrzJJrZS0   pianoAndrewRemillard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQpj4TSe-Ec   Acapelddridge

lyrics

1 Break now the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
as once you broke the loaves beside the sea.
Beyond the sacred page I seek you, Lord;
my spirit waits for you, O living Word. 

2 Bless your own word of truth, dear Lord, to me,
as when you blessed the bread by Galilee.
Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall;
and I shall find my peace, my All in all! 

3 You are the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
your holy word the truth that rescues me.
Give me to eat and live with you above;
teach me to love your truth, for you are love. 

4 O send your Spirit now, dear Lord, to me,
that he may touch my eyes and make me see.
Show me the truth made plain within your Word,
for in your book revealed I see you, Lord. 

Mary Artemisia Lathbury (1841-1913) was a person of many talents -- professional artist, poet, and author. The daughter of a Methodist minister and sister to two Methodist ministers, she is remembered as the founder of the Look-Up Legion, a Methodist Sunday school organization, her work on behalf of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and her literary activity at the Lake Chautauqua, New York, summer assemblies.

The Chautauqua Institution, originally the Chautauqua Lake Sunday School Assembly, was founded in 1874 by two Methodists as an educational experiment in out-of-school, vacation learning. The Assembly's ecumenical spirit and programming was successful and broadened almost immediately beyond courses for Sunday school teachers to include academic subjects, music, art, and physical education. Lathbury was so integral to the Assembly's life that she was called the "Poet Laureate of Chautauqua."

Chautauqua's ethos permeates "Break thou the bread of life" (1877). Inspired by Jesus' feeding of the multitude (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:39-44), this two-stanza hymn was composed on the shores of Lake Chautauqua in 1877 for the Normal Class, the most prominent educational experience at the Assembly at that time for training Sunday school teachers during the summer.

British hymnologist John Julian cited this hymn in his famous Dictionary of Hymnology (1892) with incorrect information as to its date and purpose of publication. Methodist hymnologist Fred Gealy contacted Gladys E. Gray, an amateur historian and Baptist organist and music director from Geneva, New York, concerning the origins of this hymn, and was able to correct Julian's information. Ms. Gray wrote: 

"Break Thou the bread of life" was written as a "study hymn" for the Normal Classes. The Chautauqua movement started for the sole purpose of providing opportunity for Sunday School teachers to come apart and do some intensive studying in the preparation for better work in their local churches. . . . One of the mis-statements given wide publication has been that this hymn was written for the famous Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. However, the hymn was written in 1877, and Mr. Vincent did not inaugurate the Circles until 1878. 

It was included in The Chautauqua Carols later that year. This hymn and Lathbury's "Day is dying in the west" (UM Hymnal, 687) are still sung regularly at the Institute's Sunday evening vesper services. More than sixty of Lathbury's hymns appear in hymnals in the United States in the twentieth century, but these two are her most used by far. "Break Thou the Bread of Life" was included in Methodist hymnals in 1905.

Though sung often as a Communion hymn, this is one of the few classic hymns on Christian Scripture. "Break thou the bread of life" focuses on the relationship between the Christ found in the "sacred page" and the individual reader of the Bible. Whereas William Walsham How's hymn on Scripture, "O Word of God Incarnate" (1866), focuses on the relationship of Scripture to the church serving as a "beacon above the darkling world," Lathbury's message is that the Christ of the Scripture brings "truth," breaks the power of "bondage," and provides "peace" to each person who shares the "bread of life."

https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-break-thou-the-bread-of-life