The Church’s
One Foundation
1866
Words: Samuel
J. Stone 1839-1900
Music: Samuel J. Wesley 1810-1876
“. .
. Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Savior of the body.” Ephesians
5:23
At
the time of the writing of this hymn there was a great religious
conflict over modern scholarship and liberalism. Samuel Stone was sure
this would divide and destroy the church. He wrote this hymn in
1866 to try to stem the tide of liberalism.
He based this hymn on the statement in the Apostles’ creed, “The Holy
Catholic (Universal) Church; the Communion of Saints; He is the head of
the body.” Stone believed that the unity of the church rest solely with
a recognition of the lordship of Christ as its head. This hymn was
widely accepted.
Stone served on the committee that prepare d the 1909 edition of the
very famous hymnal, “Hymns Ancient and Modern.”
Prayer Focus: Help us to love and respect the body of Christ.