Celebrating Grace Hymnal ‎#246

246. The Church's One Foundation

1 The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
she is His new creation by water and the Word;
from heaven He came and sought her to be His holy bride,
with His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.

2 Elect from every nation, yet one o’er all the earth,
her charter of salvation, one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses, with every grace endued.

3 Though with a scornful wonder we see her oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed;
yet saints their watch are keeping, their cry goes up, “How long?”
and soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.

4 'Mid toil and tribulation and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation of peace forevermore;
till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blest,
and Christ's great church victorious shall be the church at rest.

5 Yet she on earth has union with God, the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won;
O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we,
like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with Thee.

Text Information

• First Line: The church's one foundation
• Title: The Church's One Foundation
• Author: Samuel J. Stone (1866)
• Meter: 7.6.7.6 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2010
• Topic: The Church as Community: Identity; Church

Tune Information

• Name: AURELIA
• Composer: Samuel S. Wesley (1864)
• Meter: 7.6.7.6 D
• Key: D Major
• Notes: Higher key, No. 476