The Church's one foundation
Encyclopedia
The Church's One Foundation is a Christian
hymn
written in the 1860s by Samuel John Stone
.
The hymn was written as a direct response to some teaching, considered unorthodox at the time, by John William Colenso
, first Bishop of Natal
, which created schism within the church in South Africa
. This topic is alluded to within the third verse of the text "Though with a scornful wonder men see her sore oppressed, by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed." When Bishop Colenso was deposed for his teachings, he appealed to the higher ecclesiastical authorities in England. It was then that Samuel Stone became involved in the debate. It inspired him to write a set of hymns based on the Apostles' Creed in 1866. He titled it, Lyra Fidelium; Twelve Hymns on the Twelve Articles of the Apostles' Creed. "The Church's One Foundation" is based on the ninth article, "The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints."
The hymn also served as inspiration for Rudyard Kipling
's 1896 poem, Hymn Before Action
.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
written in the 1860s by Samuel John Stone
Samuel John Stone
Samuel John Stone was an ordained minister in the Church of England, chiefly remembered for his hymn The Church's One Foundation....
.
The hymn was written as a direct response to some teaching, considered unorthodox at the time, by John William Colenso
John William Colenso
John William Colenso , first Anglican bishop of Natal, mathematician, theologian, Biblical scholar and social activist.-Biography:Colenso was born at St Austell, Cornwall, on 24 January 1814...
, first Bishop of Natal
Bishop of Natal
The Bishop of Natal exercises episcopal leadership over the Diocese of Natal of the Church of Southern Africa.-Succession:-See also:*Anglican Church of Southern Africa*Anglican Diocese of Natal-References:...
, which created schism within the church in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. This topic is alluded to within the third verse of the text "Though with a scornful wonder men see her sore oppressed, by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed." When Bishop Colenso was deposed for his teachings, he appealed to the higher ecclesiastical authorities in England. It was then that Samuel Stone became involved in the debate. It inspired him to write a set of hymns based on the Apostles' Creed in 1866. He titled it, Lyra Fidelium; Twelve Hymns on the Twelve Articles of the Apostles' Creed. "The Church's One Foundation" is based on the ninth article, "The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints."
The hymn also served as inspiration for Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
's 1896 poem, Hymn Before Action
Hymn Before Action
Hymn Before Action is a poem written by Rudyard Kipling in 1896. It takes the form of a prayer by troops to God and to Mary on the eve of battle.-Publication history and reception:...
.
Popular Usage
- Lines from the Lyrics have (apparently) been used by David WeberDavid WeberDavid Mark Weber is an American science fiction and fantasy author. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Weber and his wife Sharon live in Greenville, South Carolina with their three children and "a passel of dogs"....
as book titles for two novels in his SafeholdSafeholdSafehold is a science fiction book series by David Weber. , the series consists of five titles. The series is mostly set around the 31st century, on a distant world dubbed "Safehold" where a group of humans has hidden themselves from an alien race known as the Gbaba...
series, including: By Schism Rent AsunderBy Schism Rent AsunderBy Schism Rent Asunder is a science fiction book written by David Weber. It is the second book in the open-ended Safehold series, after Off Armageddon Reef. The publication date was July 22, 2008...
and By Heresies DistressedBy Heresies DistressedBy Heresies Distressed is a science fiction novel written by David Weber and published by Tor Books. It is the third book in the Safehold series...
.