Faith of Our Fathers

"Faith of our Fathers" is a Catholic hymn, written in 1849 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. Faber wrote two versions of the hymn: one with seven stanzas for Ireland, and another with four for England. The Irish version was sung at hurling matches until the 1960s. 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 is more commonly used. Lyrics Faith of our Fathers! living still In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword: Oh, how our hearts beat high with joy Whene'er we hear that glorious word.