The Church’s One Foundation

Verse 1

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

Verse 2

Called out from every nation
Yet one through all the earth
Her charter of salvation
One Lord one faith one birth
One holy name she blesses
And shares one holy food
As to one hope she presses
With every grace endued

Verse 3

We see her long divided
By heresy and sect
Yet she by God is guided
One people one elect
Her vigil she is keeping
Her cry goes up how long
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the dawn of song

Verse 4

In 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 blessed
At last the church victorious
Shall be the church at rest

Verse 5

Yet she on earth has union
With God the Three-in-One
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won
O happy ones and holy
Lord grant to us your grace
With them the meek and lowly
In heaven to see your face