I was leafing through Lift Up Your Hearts hymnal and saw Christ is Made the Sure Foundation and started singing. My hubby looked at me oddly since we were also watching a TV show at the time. 🙂 Good to prove to him I can multi-task eh? 🙂
Lyrics
Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and cornerstone;
Chosen of the Lord, and precious,
Binding all the Church in one,
Holy Zion’s help forever,
And her confidence alone.
All that dedicated city,
Dearly loved of God on high,
In exultant jubilation,
Pours perpetual melody,
God the One in Three adoring
In glad hymns eternally.
To this temple, where we call Thee,
Come, O Lord of Hosts, today;
With Thy wonted lovingkindness
Hear Thy servants as they pray.
And Thy fullest benediction
Shed within its walls alway.
Here vouchsafe to all Thy servants
What they ask of Thee to gain;
What they gain from Thee forever
With the blessèd to retain,
And hereafter in Thy glory
Evermore with Thee to reign.
Laud and honor to the Father,
Laud and honor to the Son,
Laud and honor to the Spirit,
Ever Three and ever One;
Consubstantial, co-eternal,
While unending ages run.
History
The author is this lovely hymn is unknown. It was translated by John M. Neale in 1851 for the hymnal Mediaeval Hymns. Generally it is sung to either the tune Westminster Abbey (a new tune to me) or Regent Square (which I grew up with).
One of the things that is good to do when considering what song to sing to look at the words. Consider well the first verse of this lovely hymn.
Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and cornerstone;
Chosen of the Lord, and precious,
Binding all the Church in one,
Holy Zion’s help forever,
And her confidence alone.
Isn’t that just good theology? Seeing who Christ is… chosen of the Lord, his precious one (beloved son). Christ who holds all the church together, one in whom we have confidence. That hope we have in Christ keeps us all-together and reminds of us the help we have in him. A good song eh?
I have not heard these words to the first tune. I am trying hard to recall the start of the hymn that I know to that tune but this is not it. Isn’t it funny how often tunes were reused? I do like the first stanza of these lyrics. Thanks for sharing this one.
thank you. I really like this song it’s been running through my head all week, mostly keeping me sane I think. 🙂 I find it curious how different denominations or sections of the world can all know the same tune and yet other parts/denominations use a completely different one.
Not familiar to me at all. Mostly our church played the same several songs over and over.
It is nice to hear and read other hymns.
that must get really old to do the same songs over and over again. Why do they do that?
So beautiful! We sing this in our church and I love it so much!
it’s a good song isn’t it? 🙂