The Church's one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord
She is His new creation,
by water and the Word:
From heav'n He came and sought her
to be His holy bride
With His own blood He bought her,
and for her life He died.
The Church's One Foundation

Elect from every nation,
Yet one o'er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth
One holy Name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.

Though with a scornful wonder
Men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distressed,
Yet saints their watch are keeping
Their cry goes up, "How long?"
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song.

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 a foe or traitor,
She ever shall prevail

Mid toil and tribulation
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore
Till with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blessed,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union
With God, the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won:
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we,
Like them, the meek and lowly,
on high may dwell with Thee.