Faith of Our Fathers (hymn)

For other uses, see Faith of Our Fathers.
Faith of Our Fathers
GenreHymn
Written1849
TextFrederick William Faber
Based onHebrews 11:6
Meter8.8.8.8.8.8
Melody"St. Catherine" by Henri F. Hemy

"Faith of our Fathers" is a Catholic hymn, written in 1849[1] by Frederick William Faber in memory of the Catholic Martyrs from the time of the establishment of the Church of England by Henry VIII and Elizabeth.[2] Faber wrote two versions of the hymn: one with seven stanzas for Ireland, and another with four for England.[3] The Irish version was sung at hurling matches until the 1960s.[4]

In England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, it is usually sung to the traditional tune Sawston; in the United States, the tune St Catherine by Henri Hemy (the same tune used by the baptismal hymn "O Jesus Christ Our Lord Most Dear") is more commonly used.

  1. ^ Routley, Erik; Paul Akers Richardson (2005). A panorama of Christian hymnody. GIA Publications. p. 224. ISBN 978-1-57999-352-8.
  2. ^ Osbeck, Kenneth W. (1982). 101 hymn stories. Kregel Publications. pp. 72–73. ISBN 978-0-8254-3416-7.
  3. ^ O'Sullivan, Patrick (1996). Religion and identity. Leicester University Press. p. 85. ISBN 978-0-7185-1424-2.
  4. ^ O'Sullivan, Patrick (1996). Religion and identity. Leicester University Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-7185-1424-2.