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About Numbered Notation

Numbered Notation (also called Jianpu, 简谱) writes each melody note as a number from 1 to 7 instead of a note on a staff. The number shows the note's position in the song's scale -- not its exact pitch -- so the same tune looks identical no matter what key it's sung in.

Within one octave, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 correspond to the familiar do re mi fa sol la ti. A dot above a number raises it an octave higher; a dot below lowers it an octave lower -- no dot means the middle, as-written octave.

A plain number lasts one beat. A dash (-) right after a number holds that same note for one more beat. A line underneath a number shortens it instead -- one line is half a beat, two lines a quarter of a beat. A 0 is a rest: silence for one beat.

The label at the top of the sheet, like "1=C" or "1=Ab", shows which pitch scale degree 1 ("do") is tuned to. A song in a minor key is labeled "6=X" instead -- scale degree 6 ("la") is the true tonic. Chord names printed above the notes (like "C" or "G7") always use their familiar letter names, never numbers.

For example, under a "1=C" heading, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sound as C D E F G A B. Under a "1=G" heading, those very same numbers sound as G A B C D E F# instead -- same shape, different key.

Faith of our fathers, living still

The Church Her Faith

English830
1
Faith of our fathers, living still
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword,
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene’er we hear that glorious word!
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
2
Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free;
And blest would be their children’s fate,
If they, like them should die for thee:
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
3
Faith of our fathers, we will strive
To win all nations unto thee;
And through the truth that comes from God
Mankind shall then indeed be free.
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
4
Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife,
And preach thee, too, as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life.
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!

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Jonathan Ogbu Agbinya

Adum-east, Benue, Nigeria

Sep 23, 2026

We will be true to the end, just as Jesus Christ is. And may our children also take this upon themselves to do so too.

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Promise Onyechere

Aba, Abia, Nigeria

Aug 20, 2026

This hymn always makes me to cry. It rekindles fire of commitment each time I listen to it. May we be true with the faith of our fathers till death.

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Adewale Ajose

Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria

Aug 12, 2026

The song dropped in my spirit during prayers. The message in this song is deep. I pray God will give my generation the strength to pass This Faith to the next generation.

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David

Jul 7, 2026

I learned the song when I was 5years and am 39 and it still ring in my hears

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Shea

Jun 29, 2026

I remember this song today in prayer. It's one of the 1st songs that I learned how to play on the organ, in school decades ago!

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Peg

Millsboro, DE, United States

Apr 30, 2026

This was the first song my mom taught me. I must have been around seven or eight. I praise God for this Precious memory ♥️

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Suzette Walters

Brooklyn, NY, United States

Apr 29, 2026

God be blessed! This hymn came in my spirit as I was talking to God about me being kind and showing love to everyone I come in contact with - even those who seek to mean and persecute the church. The bible says by showing love to each other then the world will come to know him. (paraphrased). Let us love one another as children of God no matter the denomination.

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Emmanuel Kofi Anane

Accra, Ghana

Apr 26, 2026

In Matthew 24 , Christ tells us of the persecution we are bound to suffer because of our commitment to Him. Here in my nation, at the moment, we suffer something far more threatening than persecution. A sleeping church, a comfortable church, rejecting the reality of the truth of the word of God about persecutions and killings that are bound to happen (as the world gets darker) My question is, are we being prepared for these dark days and like the fathers of faith in time past, can we stand the persecution ahead? It is my prayer that we remain steadfast, for before that glorious day when Christ shall be revealed, dark days shall come.

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Osilaja Lucy

Ede, Osun, Nigeria

Mar 14, 2026

Great! Faith of our Fathers, living still came to me strongly as l rounded off with my devotion this morning. The Lord Himself will help us to keep on contending for this faith that has been delivered unto us and also give us the grace to pass it on to our generations in Jesus name.

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Oluwaseun Oluwabunmi

Lagos, Nigeria

Mar 12, 2026

I was reading Jude 1:3b" ....... and exhort you that you should EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS". Then the Holy Spirit laid this hymn into my heart.

While singing and going through my brethren's comment, I could not hold my tears, because I was looking at how SELF has stopped us from being true to this faith of our fathers in my generation.

And this is my heart cry to God that he will give us the grace to be true to the Faith till the end

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