How Firm a Foundation (hymn)

For the novel of the same title, see How Firm a Foundation (novel).

How Firm a Foundation is a Christian hymn, published in 1787 by John Rippon in A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended to be an Appendix to Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns, known as "Rippon's Selection". It is attributed only to "K", which probably refers to Robert Keen(e), precentor at Rippon's church,^[1] though other names suggested include Richard or John Keene, Kirkham,John Keith or Words by G. Keith and Music by J. Reading as cited in the 1884 publication of Asa Hull's Jewels of Praise. ^[2] It is most often sung to the tune "Protection" (or "Foundation") by Joseph Funk from A Compilation of Genuine Church Music (1832), though the original tune may be Keen(e)'s "Geard".^[3]

This was the favorite hymn of General Robert E. Lee and has been played at the funerals of several US politicians. On Christmas Eve 1898, American units involved in the Spanish–American War joined together to sing the hymn. The units were from the North and the South.

Virgil Thomson incorporated the hymn into his score for the film The River.

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