Hymn Histories : The Church’s one foundation
Written by : Reverend Samuel John Stone in 1866
Tune : Aurelia
Composer : Samuel S. Wesley
Posted by: Wyn Galpin
A creed is a short statement which expresses and clarifies Christian beliefs, including the nature of God. Some congregations recite them during acts of worship.
One of the most well-known is the Apostles Creed, though not written by the apostles, and it dates back to around 140 A.D. Creeds are not Scripture but rather a list of the doctrines of faith.
In 1866 the Reverend Samuel John Stone, who was a curate in Windsor, was concerned that, while many of his parishioners used the Apostles’ Creed in church and during their private prayers, they did not always seem to grasp the full meaning of the text because the prose was too academic and seemed disconnected from the average worshipper. So he wrote the ‘Lyra Fidelium’, a group of twelve hymns, one for each article of the Apostles’ Creed. With each hymn he included a short ‘summary of truths confessed’ along with a list of the Scripture passages supporting it. What a wonderful way to approaching hymn writing!
‘The Church’s One Foundation’ was written in support of article 9 of the Creed, which affirms belief in ‘the holy catholic church’ and ‘the communion of saints.’ In this context, the word ‘catholic’ relates to ‘the church universal’ and was the word used in the original version of the Creed. It does not mean the Roman Catholic Church, but rather the church, the body of Christ, as a universal fellowship.
Raising our hearts and voices together in song is a great privilege for us as believers. Its highest purpose is for God’s glory but Christian music can also bind us together, comfort us and teach us. Indeed, songs are recognised as a powerful means of teaching; their melodies, rhythms and rhymes can make words and concepts easier to remember.
God’s people have always sung and their songs have so much to teach us. We can see this as early as Exodus 15 where Moses records the song Israel sang after crossing the Red Sea. It’s a powerful testimony about God’s character and power in delivering his people.
And then, of course, there is the splendid Book of Psalms with its treasury of extraordinary praise, prayers and prophecy. We’ll never go wrong singing from Scripture and it’s worth noting that we also have a wide and varied repertoire of quality Bible-based hymns available to us.
It’s important to select our repertoire with care, particularly in respect of its Scriptural basis and teaching, not least because our repertoire, both personal and congregational, is very powerful. May we offer up a true sacrifice of praise full of worship, adoration and gratitude to our absolutely matchless God.
Footnote : Sadly, the only hymn from the Lyra Fidelium to remain current in terms of usage is ‘The Church’s one foundation’.