The Church's One Foundation
The Church's One Foundation is a hymn text. Found in CW21 855, CW93 538, ELH 486, elw 654. Sung to AURELIA.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship: Hymnal — 855
- Christian Worship — 538
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 486
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 654
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 369
- Lutheran Service Book — 644
- Lutheran Worship — 289
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 473
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Christ as foundation → universal redemption → eternal security → communion of saints
Background Research
Samuel J. Stone (1839–1900), then curate at Windsor, wrote Lyra Fidelium (1866): twelve hymns on the articles of the Apostles' Creed for ordinary worshippers. This one is for 'the holy catholic church; the communion of saints'. Background: Bishop John Colenso of Natal had questioned the authorship of the Pentateuch and eternal punishment. His metropolitan, Bishop Robert Gray of Cape Town, tried to depose and excommunicate him and was blocked on a legal technicality. Stone said Gray's defence of the faith was on his mind as he wrote, hence the lines about schisms and heresies ('by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed'). Hymns Ancient & Modern (1868) cut it to five stanzas. Stone expanded it to ten for a Salisbury Cathedral procession (1885), and that version was sung at the 1888 Lambeth Conference services at Canterbury, Westminster Abbey and St Paul's. Tune AURELIA, by S. S. Wesley, was originally written for 'Jerusalem the golden'.
Sources: hymnologyarchive.com 'The church's one foundation'.
In the Church Year
Hymn of the Day (Lutheran Service Book) for: Trinity 10; Proper 11
Suggested in the one-year series
- Trinity 10 (6×)
- All Saints (2×)
- Confession of St. Peter (2×)
- Trinity 17 (2×)
- Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist (1×)
- Sts. Peter and Paul (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Proper 11 (3×)
- Confession of St. Peter (1×)
- Epiphany 2 (1×)
- Epiphany 3 (1×)
- Lent 5 (1×)
- Proper 16 (1×)
- Proper 22 (1×)
- Proper 8 (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
Written as part of a series on the Apostles' Creed, this hymn expounds 'the holy Christian church.' Christ is its foundation, creating it by water and the Word and buying it with his blood (st. 1); it is one in Lord, faith, and Baptism (st. 2); it will never perish despite foes and traitors (st. 3); it suffers schism and heresy but waits in hope (st. 4); and it longs for its final rest (st. 5). It was written amid a controversy over a bishop who denied biblical authority, which explains the stanzas on 'false sons' and 'heresies.'
Central theme: The church founded on Christ, created by water and Word, one in faith, preserved through conflict until its rest
Structure
Foundation (1); unity (2); preservation (3); suffering and hope (4); consummation (5).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel foundation; frank about heresy, schism, and persecution within and without.
Confessional Connections
AC VII: one holy church will remain forever. 'By water and the Word' — Eph 5:26 and Luther's Small Catechism on Baptism. 'One holy food' — the Lord's Supper. AC VIII acknowledges hypocrites and false members within the visible church.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Reformation; church anniversaries; Holy Trinity; ordinations; Baptism.
Historical Notes
Stone (1839-1900) wrote it in 1866 for 'Lyra Fidelium' amid the controversy over Bishop John Colenso of Natal.
About the Tune
AURELIA (Samuel S. Wesley, 1864).
Scripture References
1 Cor 3:11 Eph 2:20 Eph 5:25-27 Acts 20:28 Eph 4:4-6 Matt 16:18 Acts 20:29-30 Rev 6:10 Ps 30:5
Stanza by Stanza
Jesus Christ is the church's only foundation; she is his new creation by water and the Word; he came from heaven to seek her as his bride, bought her with his own blood, and died for her life.
1 Cor 3:11 ('no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ'). 'New creation / By water and the Word' — Eph 5:25-26 ('Christ loved the church… having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word'); Luther: Baptism is 'water included in God's command and combined with God's Word.' Bridal imagery (Eph 5:25-27; Rev 19:7). 'With His own blood He bought her' (Acts 20:28). The church owes everything to Christ.
- Scripture
- 1 Cor 3:11, Eph 2:20, Eph 5:25-27, Acts 20:28, 2 Cor 5:17, Rev 19:7
- Imagery & language
- Foundation; new creation; bride; blood.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the church created by Christ.
- Connection to previous
- Foundation.
Chosen from every nation, yet one across the earth, her charter of salvation is one Lord, one faith, one birth; she blesses one holy name, shares one holy food, and presses toward one hope, gifted with every grace.
Eph 4:4-6 ('one body and one Spirit… one hope… one Lord, one faith, one baptism'). 'One birth' — Baptism (John 3:5). 'One holy food' — the Lord's Supper (1 Cor 10:16-17). The church is catholic (from every nation) and one. Its unity is given, not achieved — it rests on God's gifts.
- Scripture
- Eph 4:4-6, John 3:5, 1 Cor 10:16-17, Rev 7:9, 1 Pet 2:9
- Imagery & language
- Charter; one food; one hope.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — unity in God's gifts.
- Connection to previous
- Unity.
The church will never die; her Lord is with her to the end to defend, guide, sustain, and cherish her; though some hate her and false sons are within, she will prevail against both enemy and traitor.
Matt 16:18 and 28:20 ('I am with you always, to the end of the age'). 'False sons within her pale' — hypocrites and false teachers inside the visible church (Acts 20:29-30; 1 John 2:19; AC VIII). The church's endurance is Christ's doing, not hers.
- Scripture
- Matt 16:18, Matt 28:20, Acts 20:29-30, 1 John 2:19, Eph 5:29
- Imagery & language
- Defending; foe and traitor.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — preservation of the church.
- Connection to previous
- Preservation.
Though people watch with scorn as she is oppressed, torn by schisms and troubled by heresies, the saints keep watch and cry 'How long?'; soon the night of weeping will become a morning of song.
A frank admission of the church's visible brokenness — schism and heresy (1 Cor 11:18-19). 'How long?' — the cry of the martyrs (Rev 6:10) and the psalms (Ps 13:1). 'The night of weeping / Shall be the morn of song' — Ps 30:5 ('weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning').
- Scripture
- 1 Cor 11:18-19, Rev 6:9-11, Ps 13:1, Ps 30:5, Isa 62:6-7
- Imagery & language
- Scornful onlookers; rent asunder; night and morning.
- Law / Gospel
- Law (the church's brokenness) and Gospel (hope).
- Connection to previous
- Suffering.
Amid toil, tribulation, and war, she waits for the fulfillment of everlasting peace, until her longing eyes see the glorious vision and the great church victorious becomes the church at rest.
The church militant waits for consummation (Rom 8:23-25; Rev 21:3-4). 'The vision glorious' (1 Cor 13:12; Rev 22:4). 'The Church victorious… the Church at rest' (Heb 4:9; Rev 14:13). Stone's original includes a further stanza on communion with the saints in rest.
- Scripture
- Rom 8:23-25, Rev 21:3-4, 1 Cor 13:12, Rev 22:4, Heb 4:9
- Imagery & language
- Toil; tumult; vision; rest.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — consummation.
- Connection to previous
- Consummation.