The church’s one foundation

The church’s one foundation
is Jesus Christ her Lord;
she is his new creation
by water and the word:
from heaven he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her
and for her life he died.

2. Elect from every nation
yet one through all the earth;
her charter of salvation-
one Lord, one faith, one birth:
one holy name she blesses,
and shares one holy food;
as to one hope she presses
with every grace endued.

3. We see her long divided
by heresy and sect;
yet she by God is guided-
one people, one elect:
her vigil she is keeping,
her cry goes up, ‘How long?’
and soon the night of weeping
shall be the dawn of song.

4. In toil and tribulation
and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation
of peace for evermore:
till with the vision glorious
her longing eyes are blessed;
at last the church victorious
shall be the church at rest!

5. Yet she on earth has union
with those whose rest is won,
and shares in sweet communion
with God the Three-in-One,
whose love has made them holy!
Lord, grant to us your grace
with them, the meek and lowly,
in heaven to see your face.