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The Church’s one foundation

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The Church’s one foundation

Hymn Histories : The Church’s one foundation
Written by : Reverend Samuel John Stone in 1866
Tune : Aurelia
Composer : Samuel S. Wesley

A creed is a short statement which expresses and clarifies Christian beliefs, including the nature of God. Some congregations recite them during acts of worship. 

One of the most well-known is the Apostles Creed, though not written by the apostles, and it dates back to around 140 A.D. Creeds are not Scripture but rather a list of the doctrines of faith.

In 1866 the Reverend Samuel John Stone, who was a curate in Windsor, was concerned that, while many of his parishioners used the Apostles’ Creed in church and during their private prayers, they did not always seem to grasp the full meaning of the text because the prose was too academic and seemed disconnected from the average worshipper. So he wrote the ‘Lyra Fidelium’, a group of twelve hymns, one for each article of the Apostles’ Creed. With each hymn he included a short ‘summary of truths confessed’ along with a list of the Scripture passages supporting it. What a wonderful way to approaching hymn writing!

‘The Church’s One Foundation’ was written in support of article 9 of the Creed, which affirms belief in ‘the holy catholic church’ and ‘the communion of saints.’ In this context, the word ‘catholic’ relates to ‘the church universal’ and was the word used in the original version of the Creed. It does not mean the Roman Catholic Church, but rather the church, the body of Christ, as a universal fellowship.

Raising our hearts and voices together in song is a great privilege for us as believers. Its highest purpose is for God’s glory but Christian music can also bind us together, comfort us and teach us. Indeed, songs are recognised as a powerful means of teaching; their melodies, rhythms and rhymes can make words and concepts easier to remember.

God’s people have always sung and their songs have so much to teach us. We can see this as early as Exodus 15 where Moses records the song Israel sang after crossing the Red Sea. It’s a powerful testimony about God’s character and power in delivering his people.

And then, of course, there is the splendid Book of Psalms with its treasury of extraordinary praise, prayers and prophecy. We’ll never go wrong singing from Scripture and it’s worth noting that we also have a wide and varied repertoire of quality Bible-based hymns available to us.

It’s important to select our repertoire with care, particularly in respect of its Scriptural basis and teaching, not least because our repertoire, both personal and congregational, is very powerful. May we offer up a true sacrifice of praise full of worship, adoration and gratitude to our absolutely matchless God.

Footnote : Sadly, the only hymn from the Lyra Fidelium to remain current in terms of usage is ‘The Church’s one foundation’.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

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Great is thy faithfulness

Hymn Histories : Great is Thy Faithfulness
Written by : Thomas Chisholm in 1923
Tune : Great is Thy Faithfulness
Composer : William Runyan

Written by: Nicky Donald

This great hymn was written by an ordinary man in an ordinary situation in the ordinary ups and downs of life. By his own admission he didn’t suffer any life-shaking circumstances and even described himself as ‘an old shoe’!

He was born into a poor family in Kentucky and worked as an insurance agent for most of his life. He wrote, ‘My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.’

However, he did enjoy writing poetry and during his life he wrote over 1200 poems, most of which no one will ever hear. But at the age of 57, Thomas sent a few of his poems to William Runyan at the Hope Publishing Company who was particularly moved by ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness’ speaking as it does of:

  • God’s unchanging faithfulness – what a comfort that is in these ever-changing times.
  • Creation’s witness to His mercy and love – haven’t we enjoyed being so much more aware of the beauty of the changing of the seasons this year?
  • God’s faithfulness revealed in our lives – how wonderful is that – He pardons all our sins, fills us with His peace, assures of His presence, gives us strength, hope, and blessings too numerous to count! Hallelujah!

Runyan set the song to music and it quickly became a favourite with the Moody Bible Institute, and later Billy Graham chose it to be sung in his crusades. Now it’s known all over the world and has been used to encourage millions of Christians to trust in a faithful God. Pretty impressive spiritual fruit from a life insurance agent!

And that’s why Thomas Chisholm’s story is so encouraging. It shows that we don’t need to be incredibly gifted, or attractive or clever or influential for God to use us to proclaim His good news. He can even use an ‘old shoe’!

Whatever challenges, trials or disappointments we might be facing right now, this hymn reminds us that God’s promises are true, that He never changes, that His compassions never fail, and that His faithfulness to us in Christ Jesus is more than good – it’s life-changing!

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

I can only imagine

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I can only imagine

Hymn Histories : I can only imagine
Written by : Bart Millard

Written by : Nicky Donald

This hymn was written by Bart Millard, founder of the Christian band MercyMe.

It is surprisingly difficult to find the stories behind more modern Christian hymns. Perhaps most stories are only told by others looking back at a hymn writer’s experience? It certainly can’t be because modern writers don’t experience the same grief and pain, comfort and wonder that our older hymn writers did – as we can see from today’s story

Bart Millard says that he wrote his song in only a few minutes but that it took at lifetime of chaos, heartache, abuse and broken relationships to craft which makes it all the more surprising when you hear the words of the first verse, which take us straight to the gates of heaven and asks the question ‘What will it be like the first time we see His face?’
I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk by Your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When Your face is before me
I can only imagine

So how did Bart get to that point, from the background he had where to call his home life rough is an understatement? His father physically and verbally abused him on multiple occasions throughout his early life, making his life a misery. The only constants in Bart’s life were his faith and his music, anchoring him in the deep love of a heavenly Father who was so different from his earthly one. But despite that, the weight of a broken relationship with his father haunted him.

Bart left home to follow his love of music and had nothing more to do with his father. It was only when his father was diagnosed with cancer that they eventually were brought closer together. Bart was amazed to see first-hand how dramatically his dad had changed after he too had come to trust in the Lord as his Saviour. He says, ‘I got a front row seat to see this guy go from being a monster to falling desperately in love with Jesus. He was like the godliest man I’d ever known.’

When his Dad died, Bart was left with the assurance that he had gone to a better place where there is no crying, or pain, or tears. This led him to write this song expressing what it would be like when he was reunited with his earthly father where they could rejoice together before their heavenly Father:

‘Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for You, Jesus
or in awe of You be still?


Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine.’

Isn’t it wonderful to know that we will be reunited with our loved ones who have died trusting in His redemptive love and that we will be able to sing hallelujahs together before the throne?

And is it not also a challenge to us to be bold and to make sure we share this best news of the gospel with our families, our friends, our work mates so that they too can be there

I can only imagine: Bart Millard

Lead, kindly light

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Lead kindly light

Hymn Histories : Lead, kindly light
Written by : John Henry Newman in 1833

I’m sure that some of you have never heard of this hymn! If not, why don’t you listen to it in the link at the bottom of the page. I chose it not only because of the story of the author but also for the stories of those who were, much later, comforted by singing this hymn in their own terrible times.

Lead, Kindly Light was written in 1833 by John Henry Newman, an Anglican vicar, out of a time of frustration. Stranded in Italy through illness and travel disasters, he was desperate to get back to England to work. The final straw came when, having eventually boarded a ship, it was becalmed for a whole week just off shore. His plans were frustrated again. But, there on the deck on that motionless ship, it came to him that perhaps God’s plan was not his plan, and wrote these words.

‘Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home
Lead Thou me on! Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene, one step enough for me.’

Maybe you’re feeling frustrated just now – not able to work, not able to see family, not able to serve the Lord in the way you want to, not able to serve others, not able to see the way ahead, the ‘distant scene’. Perhaps we need to trust that our Saviour knows the way, and can light our path, one step at a time.

Here is one of the many stories of this hymn being sung in dark times:

In the book ‘The Hiding Place’ by Corrie Ten Boom she wrote of her arrival, with her sister Betsie, at Ravensbruck Concentration Camp. As they were driven out from their tents into the darkness she wrote: ‘Women began spreading their blankets on the hard cinder ground. Slowly it dawned on Betsie and me that we were to spend the night here where we stood. We laid my blanket on the ground, stretched out side by side, and pulled hers over us.
‘The night is dark and I am far from home . . .’ Betsie’s sweet soprano was picked up by voices all around us. “Lead Thou me on. . . .”

As you listen to this beautiful version of the hymn close your eyes and imagine how the words comforted and blessed, and still do today.

There is a balm in Gilead

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There is a balm in Gilead

Hymn Histories : There is a balm in Gilead
Written by : African-American Spiritual, author unknown
Tune : There is a balm in Gilead
Composer : African-American Spiritual, composer unknown

After two hymns arising from heart-ache, today we’re focussing on something soothing and healing – although ultimately challenging! – the old African-American spiritual, ‘There is a balm in Gilead’.

I was driving through Perthshire one evening when I first heard this in a recording by Paul Robeson. I was so moved I had to stop the car just to listen properly – you might want to listen to it now before you read on.

‘There is a balm in Gilead, to make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead, to heal the sin-sick soul.’

Gilead was famous in Old Testament times for its skilful physicians and an ointment with special qualities made from the gum of a tree peculiar to that area which many believed had mysterious, miraculous powers to heal the human body. In fact, when Joseph was sold into slavery, he was sold to a caravan taking balm from Gilead to Egypt.

Jeremiah referenced this when he cried out to his broken people, ‘Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?’ (Jeremiah 8:22) The answer didn’t come then, but African-American Christians answered his question in this spiritual with a resounding ‘Yes, there is a balm in Gilead.’

Despite whatever condition we are in, or whatever misery or difficulty we are going through, Jesus can heal our wounds and make us whole. Do you feel today that you need the balm of Jesus Christ? How wonderful that we can call out to him now for its soothing and healing powers.

We certainly know that the world is crying out for a healing balm. Many are in pain, in so many different ways, and are reaching out for answers. We wonder how, in our Church, we can serve in these times. Could we bring the balm of Jesus Christ today to our family, to our neighbours, to our community? What would that look like for me and for you?

Maybe we can echo the spiritual as it ends:
‘If you can’t sing like angels, if you can’t preach like Paul,
Go home and tell your neighbour that He died to save us all.’

There is a Balm in Gilead sung by Paul Robeson

O love that wilt not let me go

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O love that will not let me go

Hymn Histories : O love that wilt not let me go
Written by : George Matheson in 1882
Tune : St. Margaret
Composer : Albert L. Peace

Probably most of us find that we have hymns or Christian songs that we know off by heart – having a tune makes the words much easier to remember somehow. As we continue to look at the stories behind some hymns and Christian songs, some old and some new, we see how these stories, often borne out of pain and longing, can speak to us now today in all that is happening in our lives.

George Matheson was a Church of Scotland minister in Innellan in Argyll. Having become blind at the age of 19 he was rejected by his fiancée and had to struggle to excel. He found himself, at the age of 40, sitting in his study on the eve of his sister’s wedding facing a life alone. The weight of his pain was heavy on him and he suffered a real ‘dark night of the soul’ as he put it. As he sat that evening crying out in desperation to the Lord, these words of the hymn poured out. He said, ‘I had the impression of having it dictated to me by some inward voice rather than of working it out myself.’

I have always loved the story of the third verse most of all.

O Joy, that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.

Because on that night, as he wrestled with his darkness what he first wrote was, ‘I climb the rainbow through the rain’.  How much more does the word climb reflect our own experience – perhaps in pain from bereavement, with money problems or the worry of job loss, struggling with our own dark night of the soul.

It can seem hard to climb that rainbow, to hold on to God’s promise that He will never leave us. But, as we do, how much more brightly do the following lines shine that we can ‘feel the promise is not vain that morn shall tearless be’.  As we listen to the hymn, let’s remember that we believe as George did that God’s love will not let us go, that His light will guide us on our way, that His joy will seek us through pain – and that makes all the difference.

Footnote: You may be interested to know why the word ‘climb’ was changed to ‘trace’. When George Matheson submitted his hymn to the Hymn Board of the Church of Scotland he was asked to change the word because ‘trace’ was deemed a more suitable sentiment.

It is well with my soul

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When peace like a river

Hymn Histories : It is well with my soul
Written by : Horatio Spafford in 1873
Tune : Ville du Havre
Composer : Philip Bliss

It seems that many of our well-loved hymns are composed out of loss or despair, as indeed are many of the Psalms. This is certainly the case with this hymn.

Horatio Spafford was, without doubt, someone who had suffered. A lawyer by profession, his company had been hit by two financial crises in the early 1870s, so he decided to move his family from the USA to Europe for the start of a better life. He sent his wife and four daughters ahead, but tragedy struck when their ship sank with a great loss of life. Horatio received a telegram from his wife some days later, ‘SAVED, BUT SAVED ALONE. WHAT SHALL I DO?’

It’s almost impossible to imagine how terrible this loss was for them. Horatio set sail as soon as he could to be with Anna and when his ship reached the exact spot where his four daughters had drowned, and as he no doubt called out to the Lord in despair, these words filled his heart. He returned to his cabin and wrote his hymn:

‘When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.’

It seems almost incredible that he could write these words, but he did. He was given the strength to do so because he overwhelmingly knew that, in his Saviour, it was ‘well with his soul’.

I am sure that not one day passed when the couple didn’t think of their daughters, but their terrible loss had a profound impact on what they did with the rest of their lives They gave up a life of plenty and moved to Jerusalem to dedicate their lives to charity work with anyone in need. Their legacy is still there in the Spafford Children’s Centre set up by one of the daughters born to them after their loss, and still managed by the family.

Their lives turned out so differently to what they had imagined; yet they trusted in God and He used them in a new way. And, who knows, at some time that might be true of our lives; and how will we react? May we be ready and willing to step out in a way we perhaps never expected, in His strength, upheld by His love, and sure of His promise.

‘For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ (Jeremiah 29:ll)

Singing from the same song sheet

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Same song sheet

Developing a core repertoire

Sacred music has always been part of my life. My Mum sang and played piano and my Dad played piano and accordion. He also sang in the Male Voice choir at church. As a family, across the generations, we sang hymns and choruses for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a church with a strong tradition of quality music and congregational song and I sang there as a soloist, in the choir and as part of a youth group.

Most of us have favourite hymns that have special meaning or significance to us and so, to one degree or another, we almost unthinkingly develop a core repertoire; a selection of music that’s both familiar and uplifting. Actively developing and maintaining a core repertoire is, in fact, common practice among musicians across all genres. I believe that this practice translates very readily to family worship and congregational song and, indeed, that it’s fully appropriate. It all comes down to why we sing.

‘Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts.’ (Psalm 145:3-4)

We can see from the words of this wonderful Psalm that we sing in praise of our matchless God. We can use our shared repertoire to declare His greatness and pass on our knowledge of Him to future generations. What’s more, a thoughtful and studied repertoire underlines Scripture and reinforces our understanding of theology so we can sing thoughtfully, worshipfully and with understanding. ‘I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.’ (1 Corinthians 14:15b)

In his letter to the Colossians, the apostle Paul exhorted the congregation to ‘…let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.’ (Colossians 3:16)

So we can see that our praise is to bring glory to God, to teach us wisdom, to build up one another and to express our gratitude. In effect, our core repertoire serves to nurture our faith and our church community.

Is there a difference between core repertoire for corporate, family and private worship? Yes, I think so but there’s plenty of room for significant overlap. My own personal repertoire tends to be more meditative but it’s good to sing music at home that we expect to sing in church. What are your favourite psalms and hymns?

When faith takes wing

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When faith takes wing

Driving home from Crail a week or so ago, we noticed long sections of the hedgerow draped with what looked like spiders’ webs. From a visit to the Cornalees Centre in the hills above Greenock many years ago, when we saw a whole tree covered in a similar way, we knew that this wasn’t the work of spiders. The webs protect the caterpillars of one of the species of the Ermine Moth. The webs enable the caterpillars to feed to their hearts content on the leaves of the hedge or tree, safe from predators. They will strip every leaf from the host before departing.

The ranger at Cornalees, from whom we received all this information, also told us something that has stuck with me all this time. The caterpillars pupate, and when the moth finally begins to break out from the chrysalis, it has a tremendous struggle. Seeing this, well-meaning people sometimes try to help the moth escape by breaking off bits of the chrysalis. This is a disaster! It’s the effort the moth goes through to break out that gives its wings the strength to fly. Without that struggle it will never have the ability to take to the air. Far from helping, the people who do this are condemning the moth to an earthbound existence, making it easy prey for birds and other predators.

That set me thinking. It’s natural for us to try to help and protect those we love. We want to keep them from harm, and to make life as easy as possible for them. So we have a tendency to think that if God allows problems or suffering to enter our lives, He doesn’t love us. Nothing could be further from the truth! Speaking of the trials that afflict us all, the apostle Peter writes: ‘These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.’ (1 Peter 1:7) God is accomplishing something precious in us as we continue to trust Him in our difficulties. Our faith is shown to be the thing of beauty that it’s meant to be.

James says something similar about the strength given to our faith through the struggles we have to endure. ‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.’ (James 1:2-4) Far from harming us, the struggles through which our loving heavenly Father brings us, enable faith to take wing and soar, helping us to arrive at the glorious destiny He purposes for us.

God’s transforming grace

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God's transforming grace

We enjoyed another lovely walk last week – along the abandoned railway line at Lower Largo. I counted more than thirty different types of wild flowers blooming on, and alongside, the path. Meadow Cranesbill was at its peak; but there were also plenty of Knapweed, thistles, wild roses, Scabious, Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Poppies, and countless others for which I don’t know the names. Hundreds of moths and butterflies were taking advantage of the bonanza to feed on the nectar – including the Six-Spotted Burnet Moth that loves the knapweed, while its caterpillars feast on Bird’s Foot Trefoil. The moth has glossy black wings with, as the name suggests, six spots. The pictures I’ve seen colour the spots red; but those we saw seemed more like fluorescent pink – dazzling! Our noses were treated to the scents of Meadowsweet and Rosa Rugosa. To one side of us we could hear the lapping of the waves on the shore, and on the other, the song of the skylark – though they were hard to spot against the bright blue sky.

And, of course, this abundant beauty exists on what would have been a scar on the landscape, when the railway line was removed as part of the Beeching Cuts of the 1960s. That prompted me to think of the way God heals the scars of sin in our own lives. Think of these lovely words from Psalm 40:2-3: ‘the Lord… lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.’ God’s grace transforms the ugly scars sin leaves on our lives. Consider the parable of the Lost Son we’ve been looking at recently on Sunday mornings. The young man who’d been living with pigs, and was so hungry he wanted to eat their food, must have been a terrible sight (and smell!) as he staggered home. Yet his father’s love transforms him in an instant: ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.’ (Luke 15:22) And soon the rich aroma of roasting beef filled the air!

A missionary friend worked among the Quechua people of the highlands of Peru. Life in the Andes was very hard for them – particularly the women, who looked aged beyond their years. Yet when they discovered God’s love for them, and were enabled by the Holy Spirit to put their trust in Jesus, he said the years seemed to fall from their faces. God’s grace gave them hope, and joy, that transformed their lives. A novel we’re listening to at the moment describes how guilt over a specific crime aged a handsome man, leaving him ravaged. He knew nothing of God’s grace, and died a lonely death. But those whose hearts God opens to receive the good news about Jesus discover that His grace transforms their lives, bringing peace and joy alongside forgiveness.