1
Faith of our fathers, living still
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword,
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene’er we hear that glorious word!
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword,
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene’er we hear that glorious word!
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
2
Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free;
And blest would be their children’s fate,
If they, like them should die for thee:
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
Were still in heart and conscience free;
And blest would be their children’s fate,
If they, like them should die for thee:
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
3
Faith of our fathers, we will strive
To win all nations unto thee;
And through the truth that comes from God
Mankind shall then indeed be free.
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
To win all nations unto thee;
And through the truth that comes from God
Mankind shall then indeed be free.
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
4
Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife,
And preach thee, too, as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life.
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
Both friend and foe in all our strife,
And preach thee, too, as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life.
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
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Makurdi, Benue, Nigeria
This is really inspiring
Faith of our fathers...
Abuja, Nigeria
This hymn in powerful...
Lord help us to be faithful a stand till the end of time.
Lagos, Nigeria
Indeed we will be true to God till death.
Ilorin, Kwara, Nigeria
This is great
Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
I have seen how our fathers kept the faith and I pray the Lord will give us the grace to keep this faith likewise. I am deeply moved by this hymn, may his name be praise.
United States
The author of this text, Frederick William Faber, born June 28, 1814, in Carverley, Yorkshire, England, was raised as a strict Calvinist by his Father who was an English clergyman. After Frederick graduated from Oxford University in 1843, he became a minister of the Anglican Church at a small parish in Elten England.
In his younger years Faber strongly opposed the teachings and practices of the Roman Church. However, this was the time when a movement known as the Tractarian or Oxford Movement was strongly influencing the Anglican Church. Whereas the Wesleys and their evangelical followers preached a message of being saved by faith in Christ, a message easily understood by the common masses, leaders of the more sophisticated Tractarian Movement believed that a meaningful religious experience could only be gained through church ceremony and liturgy.
From 1833-1850 the Oxford Movement directed religious England, and at that time Anglicans either joined the Catholic Church or developed a high church party known as the Anglo-Catholics.
Early in his ministry Faber became influenced by the Oxford Movement. After serving just three years as an Anglican minister, he left the Anglican Church and joined the Catholic Church. He became known as Father Wilfrid. Shortly after his secession to the Roman Church Faber noticed the lack of congregational hymnody in this group.
He believed congregational singing was important and influential as he was used to having in the Anglican Church. He made it his life’s mission to write hymns that promoted the history and teachings of the Catholic Church. In all Frederick Faber wrote 150 such hymns before his early death at the age of forty-nine. He was honored by the Pope with a Doctorate of Divinity Degree.
“Faith of Our Fathers” was written by Faber to remind Catholics of their leaders who were martyred during the reign of Henry VIII when England transitioned from Catholic to Anglican. The text first appeared in 1849 in Fabers collection, “Jesus and Mary” or “Catholic Hymns for Singing and Reading. ” He hoped one day England would return to Catholicism.
The tune for this hymn, a melody known as “St. Catherine’s Tune, ” was composed by a Roman Catholic, Henry Hemy, born at New Castle-Upon-Tyne, England, in November 12, 1818. He was an organist and composer at the Church of Tynemouth and in 1854 compiled a Catholic hymnal “ Crown of Jesus. ” It was originally written in honor of Catherine of Alexander, a fourth century martyr. The final eight measures or refrain-“Faith of our fathers, holy faith, we will be true to Thee till death” were added by James G. Walton, when he made a new arrangement and used it for his collection, “Plain Song Music for the Holy Communion Office” published in 1874.
Tura
This is a wonderful song if I heard this song feels like old Mans are still alive. God is Great and Old is gold wonderful wonderful this song's make me new.
Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Whenever I heard this hymn, tears come from my eyes, when recollect how my late parents handled their faith in God.
There's a pure faith in Jehovah Jireh, believing always that He will provide for all their needs and wants without wavering!!!
Tema, Greater Accra, Ghana
There’s joy in the Lord.
Lagos, Surulere, Nigeria
This hymn fills my spirit with wonder... each line is like a cord through my heart. It leaves me wondering about the days of long ago and how humans have defied great odds to keep their faith alive and pass it down to each generation