You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

Click here to donate to Hymnary.org I have already donated. Please don't show this to me again
Text:Behold the Sure Foundation Stone
Author:Isaac Watts
Tune:ST. ANNE
Composer:William Croft
Media:MIDI file

441. Behold the Sure Foundation Stone

1. Behold the sure foundation stone
Which God in Sion lays,
To build our heav’nly hopes upon,
And His eternal praise.

2. Chosen of God, to sinners dear,
And saints adore the name;
They trust their whole salvation here,
Nor shall they suffer shame.

3. The foolish builders, scribe and priest,
Reject it with disdain;
Yet on this rock the Church shall rest,
And envy rage in vain.

4. What though the gates of hell withstood,
Yet must this building rise;
’Tis Thy own work, almighty God,
And wondrous in our eyes.

Text Information
First Line: Behold the sure foundation stone
Title: Behold the Sure Foundation Stone
Author: Isaac Watts (1719)
Meter: CM
Language: English
Source: The Psalms of David, 1719
Copyright: Public Domain
Tune Information
Name: ST. ANNE
Composer: William Croft (1708)
Meter: CM
Incipit: 53651 17151 56457
Key: C Major
Copyright: Public Domain



Media
Adobe Acrobat image: Adobe Acrobat image
(Cyber Hymnal)
MIDI file: MIDI File
(Cyber Hymnal)
Noteworthy Composer score: Noteworthy Composer score
(Cyber Hymnal)
XML score: XML score
More media are available on the tune authority page.

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.