We Gather Together

Jonathan Anderson • September 29, 2025

“We Gather Together” is a hymn that brings people into a spirit of unity and thanksgiving. Often sung around harvest time and Thanksgiving, it’s more than a seasonal song — it’s a reminder that God is with His people, guiding and protecting through every trial. Its roots go back centuries, making it one of the oldest hymns still sung in churches today.

The Story Behind the Hymn

The original version of this hymn was written in 1597 by Adrianus Valerius, a Dutch civil servant and poet. It was composed to celebrate a military victory — the Battle of Turnhout, where Dutch forces pushed back the Spanish army during their long war for independence. At the time, Protestants in the Netherlands faced religious oppression, and this hymn was written as a song of praise for God’s deliverance and faithfulness.


In 1871, Austrian composer Edward Kremser arranged the melody into a choral piece, which helped it spread across Europe. Later, it was translated into English by Theodore Baker in the early 1900s, and the version most commonly sung in churches today comes from that translation. It became especially popular in the United States around Thanksgiving, symbolizing unity, gratitude, and faith.


What Makes It Powerful

This hymn carries strength not just in its melody, but in its message of perseverance. It thanks God for His presence in times of struggle and His leadership over His people. It’s both a song of celebration and a quiet declaration of trust in God’s sovereignty.


A verse that matches the heart of this hymn is Psalm 100:4 (NIV):

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

That’s what “We Gather Together” invites us to do — come together in faith, remembering who God is and what He’s done.


My Violin Cover

When I arranged “We Gather Together” for violin, I focused on keeping the melody warm and simple, allowing space for reflection and gratitude. I tried to stay close to the traditional sound while adding a touch of expression that fits the spirit of thanksgiving.


With Violin Hymns, I aim to help each song come alive again — honoring both its history and its message.



Listen and Reflect

The video is below. As you listen, think about the ways God has led you through hard seasons. Let this hymn guide you into a spirit of thankfulness and unity. We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing — and to remember that He is always faithful.

Lyrics


We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;

He chastens and hastens His will to make known;

the wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.

Sing praises to His name, He forgets not His own.


Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,

ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;

so from the beginning the fight we were winning:

the Lord was at our side- the glory be Thine!


We all do extol Thee, Thou leader triumphant,

and pray that Thou still our defender wilt be.

Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;

Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

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