Faith of Our Fathers

This song seems to have fallen out of common use, possibly because it seems to suggest to some that we should be loyal to the faith more out of a sense of tradition than actual belief.  In fact, the author's intent was far more likely akin to Hebrews 11:  celebrating the witness provided by those who have gone before us.

Original lyrics:

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.

Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free,
How sweet would be their children’s fate
If they, like them, could die for Thee.

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.

Lyrics by Frederick W. Faber, 1849

Comments and Suggestions:

Who is the "Thee" in the original chorus?  The archaic "thee" probably would not be used to refer to the fathers (which would be incorrect in any case as Thee is only a singular pronoun).  The reference is therefore probably to a personified "faith," consistent with the general idea that "faith" is being addressed by the singer.  YOU is an easy substituion here as it retains the ambiguity.  A better approach would be to direct attention to the object of our faith:  JESUS CHRIST.  Replacing the "Thee" in the second verse permits a shift to a similar, but less gloomy, phrasing of the hope likely to communicate with a contemporary congregation.  "Foe" is outdated language, and (again) better to preach CHRIST than our "FAITH."

Renewal lyrics:

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 CHRIST till death.

Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free,
How sweet would be OUR OWN REWARD,
If WE, like them, YOUR GRACE COULD SEE.

Faith of our fathers! We will love
Both friend and THOSE WHO BRING US strife,
And preach CHRIST, too, as love knows how,
By kindly words and virtuous life.

Renewal lyric changes by RH Reinhard (c) 2014