The Church's One Foundation

Text by Samuel John Stone

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About this hymn

Date: 1866
Tune: Aurelia
Composer: Samuel Sebastian Wesley
Key: D
Meter: 7 6 7 6 7 6 7 6

Historical background

Samuel John Stone wrote the hymn amid nineteenth-century controversy over the Church’s confession; Samuel Sebastian Wesley’s Aurelia became its standard tune.

Theology & Scripture

The text identifies Christ as the Church’s foundation, acknowledges her trials, and looks toward final unity and peace.

1Cor 3:11 · Mt 27:24-25 · Lk 6:47-49

Musical background

Aurelia is presented in the documented public-domain setting named by the source score. This edition contains four-part SATB harmony in D.

Sources & rights

Verified for United States on 2026-10-12. Public domain — source score marking

Words: Samuel John Stone, 1866. Music: 'Aurelia' Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864. Setting: "Order of worship for the Reformed Church in the United States", 1866. copyright: public domain. This score is a part of the Open Hymnal Project, 2005 Revision.
Music source: 'Lutheran Worship' Hymnal, 1982 Hymn 289.
Music source: almost the same as "Order of worship for the Reformed Church in the United States", 1866 Hymn 441