"To Be a Pilgrim" (also commonly known as "He who would Valiant be") is the only hymn John Bunyan is credited with writing, and is indelibly associated with him. It first appeared in Part 2 of The Pilgrim's Progress, written in 1684. The hymn recalls the words of Hebrews 11:13: "...and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
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The words were modified extensively by Percy Dearmer for the 1906 The English Hymnal. At the same time it was given a new tune by British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams using the traditional Sussex melody "Monk's Gate". The hymn has also been sung to the melody "Moab" (John Roberts, 1870) and "St. Dunstans" (Charles W. Douglas, 1917).
For a time, Bunyan's original version was not commonly sung in churches, perhaps because of the references to "hobgoblin" and "foul fiend." However, one commentator has said: "Bunyan's burly song strikes a new and welcome note in our Hymnal. The quaint sincerity of the words stirs us out of our easygoing dull Christianity to the thrill of great adventure." Recent hymn books have tended to return to the original, for example, the Church of England's Common Praise and the Church of Scotland's Church Hymnary 4th Edition (Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise).
Uses
The original version of "To be a Pilgrim" is the school hymn for the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, Newcastle Grammar School, Derby Grammar School, Westcliff High School for Girls, Dartford Grammar School, Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, Hope Waddell Training Institution, Elmwood School and Reigate Grammar School (whose annual publication, The Pilgrim, takes its name from the hymn). It is also the school hymn of Caistor Grammar School, where it is sung in the annual church service to end the school year.
A variation of the hymn is also the school song for Westcliff High School for Girls and they sing it annually on their Foundation day and on the last day of school.
"To Be a Pilgrim" is also the school hymn of Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, traditionally sung on the first and last day of every school term.
The hymn's refrain "to be a pilgrim" has entered the language and has been used in the title of a number of books dealing with pilgrimage in a literal or spiritual sense.
The hymn is sung in several school films.
The hymn was also used in Richard Attenborough's 1977 epic World War II film, A Bridge Too Far.
"To be a Pilgrim" has also been used as the title of a radio play by Rachel Joyce, broadcast as the BBC Radio 4 afternoon play. It won the Tinniswood Award in 2007 for best original drama.
"To be a Pilgrim" has been adopted by the British Special Air Service as their battle hymn.
"To be a Pilgrim" was also sung at the funeral of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on April 17, 2013, in the English Hymnal version. It was one of her favourite hymns.
The hymn was selected by the Rt Hon Tony Benn as one of his choices on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.
It was also performed on a Series 1 episode of Keeping Up Appearances in autumn 1990.