How Firm a Foundation ( hymn ) - Wikipedia How Firm a Foundation ( hymn ) For the novel of the same title, see How Firm a Foundation ( novel ). `` How Firm a Foundation '' Hymn Melody `` Protection '' by Joseph Funk Published 1787 ( 1787 ) 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 's 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, 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. It is most often sung to the tune `` Foundation '' ( or `` Protection '' ) which first appeared in A Compilation of Genuine Church Music ( 1832 ) edited by Joseph Funk, though the original tune may be Keen ( e ) 's `` Geard. '' 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. The hymn, along with `` Jesus Loves Me, '' served as the thematic material for Virgil Thomson 's Symphony on a Hymn Tune, which was later incorporated into his score for the 1938 documentary film The River. Sections of The River 's score were reused in the 1983 television film The Day After. Don Gillis interspersed the hymn tune throughout his Symphony No. 7 `` Saga of a Prairie School, '' written in honor of his alma mater, Texas Christian University. References Jump up ^ `` K. - Hymnary.org ''. Retrieved 19 September 2016. Jump up ^ `` How Firm a Foundation ''. Retrieved 19 September 2016. Jump up ^ `` How Firm a Foundation - HymnWiki ''. Retrieved 19 September 2016. This Christian music song - related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=How_Firm_a_Foundation_(hymn)&oldid=791966872 '' Categories : English Christian hymns 1830s songs 1832 songs Christian song stubs Talk About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 23 July 2017, at 16 : 14. About Wikipedia

Question: who wrote the hymn how firm a foundation
Answer: John Rippon