The Story Behind the Song

From the archives, originally posted on 12/30/09: 

In 1983 Steve and I attended our very first Protestant church in Berkeley, CA. I believe (although I can't prove this) that the first Protestant hymn I ever heard was "The Church's One Foundation," and I was immediately smitten. When I think of First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, I think of this hymn. It has continued to be one of my favorites throughout the years.

It was written by a man named Samuel John Stone who was born in England in 1839. Apparently as a minister he was very tender-hearted, and particularly toward those who were struggling financially. As Lindsay Terry reports in his book Devotionals From Famous Hymn Stories, Stone was very much loved by his people:

"In his later years Stone enjoyed a remarkable ministry among the shop hands and office workers of London. As the early, cheaper trains began to stream into the city bringing the workers. Samuel Stone would open his church and have periods of singing and short messages for the people. He then would allow them to sit quietly and visit, sew, or read until it was time for them to begin their day's work.

He noted that many used the "Apostle's Creed" in their praying, but that few of them had any comprehension of its meaning. This ignorance, coupled with the blasphemy of the evolutionist and materialist of his day, prompted Stone to write one of the truly great hymns used in our churches today."

The church's one foundation
Is 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

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

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

'Mid toil, and tribulation
And tumult of her war
She waits the consummation
Of peace forever more
Till with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blessed
And the great church victorious
Shall be the church at rest

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

I would say that this is indeed a great summary of the Apostle's Creed. Rev. Stone's mission was accomplished!