Deep Stillness

Deep Stillness offered as the final prayer at the Anzac Day service in Canberra

April 25, 2026

I wrote ‘Deep Stillness’ 30 years ago. Most recently the words appear in the Benedictions section of A prayer, a plea, a bird.* Yesterday, I had messages from friends in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide to tell me it had been used as the benediction at the Anzac Day Service in Canberra (YouTube video at 3:12:25). This short piece has an origin story that reminds me how our making is an exchange of gifts created in and for community rather than in isolation.

In 1996 I was (and still am) a member of the Uniting Church – a church often maligned for their refusal to be hardline about social and justice issues that have riven much of Christendom.

Back then I was part of a small group planning the Opening Service of the annual gathering of the Uniting Church Synod of Victoria. The Moderator, the late Rev Dr Warren Bartlett had asked me to assist in writing the prayers. I drew inspiration from the blessing Deep Peace composed by John Rutter in 1978 which in turn had been made from words of a writer William Sharp in 1985. My task was to use images of the Australian landscape.

Ian Ferguson, a minister friend and colleague who was also a dancer, created set of gestures to align with the words as they were spoken. I’ve always believed that the reason this blessing took hold of people’s hearts and imaginations was because of the embodiment of these actions that remind us that our prayers are more than words and that they address us to the more-than-human world.

The following year, 1997 a South Australian Lutheran songwriter Robin Mann contacted me to ask permission to set the words to music – and so a three-way creation came into being and since that time has become an anthem.

‘Deep Stillness’ has been published multiple times and sung by thousands of people. The original song is licenced by CCLI which is now a part of Song Select. If you have a CCLI licence you have permission to use the song. Please report use accordingly in support of artists.

There is no permission required to quote the blessing as a spoken prayer but please continue to acknowledge authorship. The words are below.

Watching the service online, I was moved to hear the introduction that Chaplain Christine Senini, a Group Captain of the Royal Australian Airforce, gave to my blessing. Here are her words:

“As we prepare to leave this sacred space, let us remember those who never returned to the homeland they loved and remember those who grieved for them, remember those who did return often unable to share their grief with others. Whoever you are, wherever you’ve come from, whatever you believe may the Anzac spirit give you the courage to embrace our shared humanity and seek peace. This Australian blessing written by Julie Perrin is for people like us.”

Deep stillness                                                                                         

For you, deep stillness of the silent inland,

for you, deep blue of the desert skies,

for you, flame red of the rocks and stones,

for you, sweet water from hidden springs.

From the edges, seek the heartlands,

and when you’re burnt by the journey,

may the cool winds of the hovering Spirit

soothe and replenish you,

in the name of Peace

in the name of Peace.*

I first wrote the ending ‘In the name of Christ’ and I readily gave permission for this to be changed to ‘In the name of Love’ or In the name of Peace’. I think Jesus would have been good with this, his name has been and is now so appallingly misused to justify oppression and violence..

Photograph: Eva Rugel