God, whose city's sure foundation
stands upon his holy hill,
by his mighty inspiration
chose of old and chooseth still
men of every race and nation
his good pleasure to fulfill.
Here in England through the ages,
while the Christian years went by,
saints, confessors, martyrs, sages,
strong to live and strong to die,
wrote their names upon the pages
of God's blessed company.
Some there were like lamps of learning
shining in a faithless night,
some on fire with love, and burning
with a flaming zeal for right,
some by simple goodness turning
souls from darkness unto light.
As we now with high thanksgiving
their triumphant names record,
grant that we, like the, believing
in the promise of thy word,
may, like them, in all good living
praise and magnify the Lord.