Traditional Hymns
Faith of Our Fathers
Faith of Our Fathers
Listen to:
Faith of Our Fathers Piano (.mp3)
Faith of Our Fathers (.midi)
Faith of Our Fathers (.mp3)
Faith of Our Fathers Bells Version (.mp3)
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!
Refrain: Faith of our fathers, holy faith! We will be true to thee till death.
2. Faith of our fathers, we will strive to win all nations unto thee; and through the truth that comes from God, we all shall then be truly free. (Refrain)
3. 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. (Refrain)
Story of the hymn Faith of Our Fathers
The hymn was written in 1849 by Frederick William Faber, an English priest who had converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism. Faber admired the men and women who had suffered under the religious persecutions of the Tudor era, especially during the reign of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.Many of these believers were imprisoned, exiled, or executed for refusing to renounce their convictions. Faber saw in their stories a quiet heroism, a faith that endured even when the cost was everything. His hymn was meant to honor that legacy and call modern Christians to the same kind of perseverance.
The original text contained references specific to Catholic experience, but as the hymn spread, Protestant communities adapted the wording. This is why today there are multiple versions, each emphasizing a slightly different theological heritage. Yet the central theme remains unchanged: faith that survives trial, faith handed down from generation to generation, faith that shapes character and courage. The refrain, "We will be true to thee till death," captures the hymn’s emotional core. It is not triumphalism; it is devotion.
The hymn gained particular popularity in America during the nineteenth century. Its message resonated with communities facing hardship, division, and the struggle to define their identity. In many churches, it became a song for Father’s Day, not because Faber intended it, but because congregations heard in the title a celebration of spiritual inheritance. The "fathers" of the hymn are not merely biological parents but the saints, mentors, and witnesses whose faith forms the foundation of our own.
Over time, the hymn has been sung at funerals, ordinations, patriotic gatherings, and quiet Sunday services. Its melody carries a sense of solemn resolve, and its words remind believers that faith is not only believed but lived. It is a hymn about memory, loyalty, and the long arc of Christian endurance.
