Christ is the foundation

Representative Text

1 Christ is the foundation
Of the house we raise;
Be its walls salvation,
And its gateways praise.
May its threshold lowly
To the Lord be dear,
May the hearts be holy
That shall worship here.

2 On the Rock of Ages,
Resting broad and deep,
When life's tempest rages
Here let passion sleep:
Here may prayer and praises
Never cease to rise,
Till, through Christ, they raise us
Nearer to the skies.

3 Here may faith attending
Find fruition fair;
Here may spirits bending
Breathe the breath of prayer:
Here may holy gladness
Fill the waiting heart,
Until sin and sadness
Evermore depart.

4 Here may every token
Of thy presence be,
Here may chains be broken,
Prisoners here set free:
Here may light illumine
Every soul of Thine,
Lifting up the human
Unto the divine.

5 Here may God the Father,
God the Saviour, Son,
God the Holy Spirit,
Be adored as One;
Till the whole creation
At Thy footstool fall,
And in adoration
Own Thee Lord of all.

Amen.

Source: The Hymnal and Order of Service #279

Author: John S. B. Monsell

John Samuel Bewley Monsell (b. St. Colomb's, Londonderry, Ireland, 1811; d. Guilford, Surrey, England, 1875) was educated at Trinity College in Dublin and served as a chaplain and rector of several churches in Ireland after his ordination in 1835. Transferred to England in 1853, he became rector of Egham in Surrey and was rector of St. Nicholas Church in Guilford from 1870 until his death (caused by a construction accident at his church). A prolific poet, Monsell published his verse in eleven volumes. His three hundred hymns, many celebrating the seasons of the church year, were issued in collections such as Hymns and Miscellaneous Poems (1837), Spiritual Songs (1857), Hymns of Love and Praise (1863), and The Parish Hymnal (1873). Bert P… Go to person page >

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Hymns of the Saints #295

Include 9 pre-1979 instances
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