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 heav’n 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
’Mid toil and tribulation,
  And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
  Of peace for evermore;
Till, with the vision glorious,
  Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
  Shall be the Church at rest.
4
Yet she on earth hath 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,
  In love may dwell with Thee.
74
Mark E. Roberts

Tulsa, OK, United States

After attending a half-day event for the persecuted church yesterday, I don’t know why, but this hymn kept filling my mind and moving me to tears, along with memories of the precious brothers and sisters around the world suffering for Christ that we met yesterday by video and live streaming.


Elaston Njovu

Lusaka, Zambia

I Always Find Strength In This Hymn Because Of Its Rich Doctrine That Clearly States Jesus Christ As The Foundation Of The Church, Our Hope And Everything Thorough Him.


Raj

Chennai, Tamilnadu, India

A real New Testament hymn. As we believe and sing, this will bring joy of kingdom of God in us.


Christina Berry

Athol, MA, United States

We, the church, for whom Christ gave His all, exist to give God glory! This hymn and your responses testify to this and that it is by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, through Christ alone, that we overcome sin and death. Glory to God!


Jim Lembke

St. Louis, Missouri, United States

We sang The Church’s one foundation yesterday in worship. As usual, it brought me to tears. The richness of the theology in the lyrics put this hymn in a very exclusive club. I woke up this morning and this great hymn came to mind during my devotion. So I googled the lyrics and came to this website. I have been blessed by the remarks.


Luis A Montero

Caguas, Puerto Rico, United States Minor Outlying Islands

I used to sing this song as a boy in morning chapel at St. David's Catholic School in New York City, and to this day--about forty years later--the hymn keeps coming back to me. I thank God for the beauty of this hymn, the spiritual power of its words, and the appreciation shown by others at this site. Thank you for sharing this treasure!


Mark McCadden

Bognor Regis, West Sussex, United Kingdom

Even now the lyrics of this song bring tears to my eyes for I believe it was upon hearing the words of this first verse that the Lord first revealed himself to me and I began my Christian journey, now nearly forty years ago.


Peter Smith

East Woonona, NSW, Australia

I woke up with the first verse and the melody in my mind. It takes me back to childhood when I loved the music, but had not fully grasped the wonderful significance of the lyrics.

As I do now. Much has already been said about the vital worth of good theology behind our Christian songs. I wholeheartedly agree, and wish more of these old classics were used in churches now.


Wilma Boreham

Cobargo, NSW, Australia

I have loved this hymn since I was baptised 60 years ago and it is the gospel and future for us all. It is a pity we don't sing it often enough in our churches today.


Nanas

Accra, Ghana

And Her church will always need Him in desperate times like these.

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