154. Faith of our fathers, living still
Frederick W. Faber, 1814-63
A stirring hymn of faith bringing to mind the story of the Christian martyrs and pledging loyalty till death to the faith of our fathers. The last stanza, suggesting the preaching of the faith through “kindly words and virtuous life,” is especially fine and Christian in spirit.
By “faith of our fathers” we mean, as we sing the hymn, the truth contained in the Gospels, taught by the Apostles, and brought again into clear light at the Reformation. But the hymn originally, written by a Roman Catholic, had reference to the Roman Catholic faith. The author, an Englishman, wrote one verse as follows:
Faith of our fathers! Mary’s prayers
Shall win our country back to Thee!
And through the truth that comes from God
England indeed shall then be free.
The lines have been adapted for Protestant services to read:
Faith of our fathers! God’s great power
Shall soon all nations win for thee;
And through the truth that comes from God
Mankind shall then be truly free.
The stanza, somewhat over-optimistic, is omitted from the Hymnary.
For comments on the author, F. W. Faber, see [Hymn 44].
MUSIC. ST. CATHERINE is of English origin. The composer, Henry F. Hemy, 1818-88, was organist at St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and a teacher of piano and singing. He wrote this tune for another hymn and published it in his Crown of Jesus Music, 1864, a popular book in Catholic churches in England. The refrain was added in an arrangement by James G. Walton, 1821-1905.