ST. PETER & ST. PAUL
The Gate of Lewes
St. Peter sits on Caburn Hill,
St. Paul sits high on Beacon Down,
And there, each side of Wakeland’s Mill,
They guard the way to Lewes Town:
They hold the Sword and Keys in state—
Our bands are loosed, our sins forgiven—
They sit there guarding Lewes Gate
As they would guard the Gate of Heaven.
For Lewes Town like Heaven is,
And Heaven is like Lewes Town.
The golden streets go up the hill,
In sunshine dreaming, warm and still;
Ouse river through the vale below
Like Sion’s Stream of Life doth flow,
And many fruits our fruit-trees bear—
Plum, cherry, apple, quince, and pear—
And in our streets the live-long day
The girls and boys are at their play.
When evening falls the church bells ring,
And faithful voices pray and sing;
When morning comes the faithful feet
Tread to the altar-paces sweet.
The Lamb is with us day and night,
So, like high Heaven’s, our streets are bright.
The Lamb is with us night and day,
So two Apostles guard the way
’Twixt Caburn Hill and Beacon Down,
The way that leads to Lewes Town.
For Lewes Town like Heaven is,
And Heaven is like Lewes Town.
Oh, great St. Peter, hear our cry
From your high sunset seat on Firle,
Promise by Him you did deny
That our dear city’s gates of pearl
Shall not be forced by any foe;
Nor any soul that mongers sin,
Or in defilement loves to go,
Or makes a lie, shall enter in.
Oh, great St. Paul on Mount Caburn,
Promise by Him you sought to slay
That your fierce, fiery sword shall turn
Both east and west and every way
To guard the sunrise road that swings
Past Glynde and Wick and Stonery,
Because it is the road of kings,
Who bring their glory from the sea.
They bring their glory to our feast,
As to the New Jerusalem;
They are the Wise Kings of the East,
Who journeyed once to Bethlehem;
And through our streets they’ll ride in state,
From Brooks to Priory, up and down,
And praise the Saints who guard our Gate—
The holy Gate of Lewes Town.