The Church’s One Foundation

Author – Samuel J. Stone
Composer – Samuel S. Wesley, 1810–1876
Tune Name – “Aurelia”
Meter – 16.16 Doubled
Scripture Reference – Ephesians 5:23
“…Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Savior of the body.”

The hymn “The Church’s One Foundation” was written during a time of deep controversy and theological unrest within the Church of England. Its author, Samuel John Stone, composed the text in 1866 as part of a collection titled Lyra Fidelium (“Lyre of the Faithful”), which included twelve hymns, each based on a clause of the Apostles’ Creed. This particular hymn was written in defense of the Ninth Article: “The Holy Catholic [Universal] Church; the Communion of Saints.” It emerged as a response to the growing spread of liberal theology, especially following the publication of a controversial book in 1863 by Bishop John William Colenso. Colenso, a liberal Anglican bishop, had questioned the historical reliability of the Pentateuch in his book The Pentateuch and the Book of Joshua Critically Examined. This sparked a fierce theological dispute, most notably opposed by Bishop Gray, and eventually divided the Anglican Church.

Stone, a conservative Church of England pastor, was deeply troubled by these developments. He believed that the Church’s unity must be grounded solely on the Lordship of Christ rather than on the shifting opinions of scholars or ecclesiastical leaders. His hymn stood as a bold and poetic defense of historic Christian doctrine at a time when the Church faced internal threats. Its message affirms that the Church’s foundation is not found in human authority or tradition, but in Jesus Christ alone. The hymn quickly gained popularity in Britain and was translated into several languages, including Latin. In 1868, it was selected as the processional hymn for the Lambeth Conference, a significant gathering of Anglican bishops. This recognition helped to solidify its place in the hymnody of the church. Although Stone authored many other works—publishing seven volumes of verse and contributing to the 1909 edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern. This hymn remains his most enduring and widely sung contribution.

Born in Whitmore, Staffordshire, England, in 1839, Samuel J. Stone was educated at Oxford University and spent most of his ministry serving two parishes in London. In the poverty-stricken East End, he became known as “the poor man’s pastor,” devoting his energy to ministering among the underprivileged. He was respected for his impeccable character, his kindness toward the weak, and his unshakable commitment to orthodox Christianity. Though gentle in disposition, Stone was uncompromising in his opposition to the rise of Higher Criticism and evolutionary theories that, in his view, undermined biblical authority. He was a man of firm faith, fully convinced of the divine inspiration of Scripture, and all of his writings reflected his bold defense of Christian doctrine. His hymns have been described as “strongly outspoken utterances of a manly faith, where dogma, prayer, and praise are interwoven with much skill.” While most hymnals today only include selected verses from his original seven-stanza text, one of the most stirring stanzas, often omitted, declares:
“The Church shall never perish! Her dear Lord to defend,
To guide, sustain, and cherish, is with her to the end;
Though there be those that hate her, and false sons in her pale,
Against the foe or traitor she ever shall prevail.”

The tune most commonly paired with Stone’s text is “Aurelia,” composed by Samuel Sebastian Wesley, grandson of the famed hymn writer Charles Wesley. Born in London on August 14, 1810, Samuel S. Wesley was regarded as one of the foremost church musicians of his time. A gifted organist and composer, he earned his Doctor of Music degree from Oxford at the age of twenty-nine. He wrote extensively for church services and contributed a number of original hymn tunes to the Anglican tradition. “Aurelia,” derived from the Latin word aureus (meaning “golden”), was originally composed for the hymn “Jerusalem the Golden” but was later matched with Stone’s hymn for use at the 1868 Lambeth Conference. The dignified and stately melody of “Aurelia” provided a fitting musical complement to Stone’s majestic declaration of the Church’s unshakable foundation in Christ. Together, the powerful text and tune have created one of the most beloved hymns in the English-speaking world—a stirring reminder of the Church’s unity, resilience, and enduring faith in her Savior.