GHS 75 : The Church’s One Foundation Lyrics
GHS 75, “The Church’s One Foundation,” is one of the great ecclesiological hymns of the Christian tradition. Written by Samuel John Stone in 1866 in response to a theological controversy threatening the unity of the Anglican church, the hymn declares with calm doctrinal certainty what the Church is, who founded it, and why it will stand. She is Christ’s new creation, bought with His own blood, called from every nation, marked by one Lord, one faith, one birth, and one holy food. Though she is currently sore oppressed, rent by schism, distressed by heresy, and crying out “how long?”, her consummation is secure and her victorious rest is coming.
This hymn appears as number 75 in the Gospel Hymns and Songs (GHS) collection, used in Deeper Life Bible Church and related assemblies across West Africa, and it carries particular power when the congregation needs to be reminded of the Church’s unshakeable foundation and glorious destiny.
Hymn Lyrics – GHS 75: The Church’s One Foundation
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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.
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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.
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Though with a scornful wonder Men see her sore oppressed, By schisms rent asunder, By heresies distressed, Yet saints their watch are keeping, Their cry goes up, “how long?” And soon the night of weeping Shall be the morn of song.
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‘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.
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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, On high may dwell with Thee.
