The word “awful” in the first line is spelled “awe-full” in some hymnals in order to convey more nearly its original meaning.
For comments on Isaac Watts, see [Hymn 11].
MUSIC. PARK STREET was composed by Frederick M. A. Venua, 1788-1872, an eminent French organist, a native of Paris. It is a favorite tune in America where it is invariably associated with this hymn by Watts.
THE CHURCH
273. The Church’s one foundation
Samuel J. Stone, 1839-1900
A truly great hymn, honoring the church of Christ and longing for its prosperity. The author, then a young curate of 27 years in the Church of England, was so stirred by the attacks made on the church in his time that he determined to write a series of twelve hymns on the Apostles’ Creed. This one is based on the article, “I believe in the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints.” The controversy which then raged in England concerning the nature of the inspiration of the Scriptures is reflected in the third stanza, the author leaning strongly on the conservative side.
Samuel J. Stone was a clergyman of the Church of England, born in Staffordshire, and educated at Oxford. He served various churches, finally succeeding his father at St. Paul’s, Haggerston, London. For twenty years he had a fruitful ministry in this East End parish among the poor and depraved, before moving to another part of the city to another church. He is the author of many hymns and translations and published several volumes of poetry.
MUSIC. AURELIA (signifying “golden”) one of our most stately tunes, combining ease of singing with churchly dignity, was written for the hymn, “Jerusalem the golden” ([262]). It was set to the present hymn in Hymns Ancient and Modern and did much to carry the hymn into the churches. It has become one of the great processional hymns of the church.
Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1810-76, grandson of Charles Wesley, was like his father, Samuel Wesley, a great English composer and organist. He had a consuming love of the outdoors, as well as of music, and was passionately fond of fishing. He was outspoken in his demands for reform in the music of the church and was, consequently, frequently at odds with his superiors. Wesley received inadequate recognition for the contributions he made to the music of his time.