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348

The Church Has One Foundation

Lyrics by
Samuel J. Stone (1866)
Music by
Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1864)
Tune
AURELIA · 7.6.7.6.D
Scripture
Ephesians 4:4-6
Verse 1
The church has one foundation,
'Tis 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.
Verse 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.
Verse 3
Though with a scornful wonder,
Men see her sore oppressed,
Though foes would rend asunder
The Rock where she doth rest,
Yet saints their faith are keeping;
Their cry goes up, "How long?"
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song.
Verse 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 the great church victorious
Shall be the church at rest.

One of the most famous English hymns about church unity, written during the Victorian era.