The Church is man when his awed soul goes out In reverence to a mystery that swathes him all about. When any living man in awe gropes Godward in his search, Then in that hour, that living man becomes the living Church, Then though in wilderness or in waste, his soul is swept along Down naves of prayer, through aisles of praise, up altar-stairs of song, And when man fronts the mystery with spirit bowed in prayer, There is the universal Churchthe Church of God is there. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE GOUTY MERCHANT AND THE STRANGER by HORACE SMITH IMPROMPTU ON CHARLES II (2) by JOHN WILMOT THE LAST CAESAR, 1851-1870 by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH CRYING, 'THALASSUS!' by JOSEPH AUSLANDER HINC LACHRIMAE; OR THE AUTHOR TO AURORA: 42 by WILLIAM BOSWORTH THE WANDERER: 2. IN FRANCE: TO MIGNONNE by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON A NEW YEAR'S SACRIFICE; TO LUCINDA by THOMAS CAREW |