The Church’s One Foundation

Throughout church history we find instances of conflict and struggle that result from defending the Church against heretical doctrines and practices.  On Sunday we sing the ever-popular hymn, “The Church’s one foundation” which arose out of such controversy. Written in 1866 by Church of England priest, Samuel Stone (1839-1900), this hymn is one of twelve hymns that Stone wrote based on the twelve articles of the Apostles’ Creed.  “The Church’s One Foundation” reflected the Ninth Article of the Creed: “The Holy Catholic Church; the Communion of Saints.”  Stone was concerned that his parishioners understood basic Christian doctrine, and not the falsities that were pervading Anglicanism at that time, especially those which arose out of the “Colenso Controversy” which challenged a variety of traditional views of scripture. Stone is praised for his ability to skillfully interweave dogma, prayer, and praise in his hymns.

“The Church’s One Foundation” originally contained seven stanzas that were later expanded to ten stanzas. However, it is its five-stanza version published in Hymns Ancient and Modern in 1868 that became widely popular throughout Great Britain and translated into several different languages, including Latin.  The hymn was sung as the processional hymn at the first Lambeth Conference in 1868, and its ten-stanza version at the third Lambeth Conference in 1888. 

Samuel Sebastian Wesley, the grandson of Charles Wesley, composed the tune we associate with this hymn. Samuel was recognized as a one of the leading church musicians of his day. According to one of Wesley’s students, a group of friends were discussing a “dish of strawberries” in Wesley’s living room, when he came running into the room with the newly composed tune, placed it on the piano, and said, “I think this will be popular. My mother was the first to ever sing it to “Jerusalem the Golden.”” His friends were well pleased with his composition, the story goes. Wesley’s tune is similar in form to that of an English folk tune with two higher range phrases sandwiched between two lower ranged phrases. The tune was first matched with Stone’s text in 1868 for use in Hymns Ancient and Modern and at the first Lambeth Conference.

We sing our faith! When we sing together, we unite on the same sound wave, community is built, God is praised, and together we become a witness to Christ’s all-embracing love in the world. So, remember, in the words of Samuel Sebastian’s great-uncle John, “Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan.”[1]

Soli Deo Gloria!

Ben Keseley, Minister of Music

Listen to a recording of the St. Olaf choir sing a setting of The Church’s One foundation by John Ferguson.

1. from John Wesley’s Directions for Singing[1]