The poetry set by Howells was written by Scottish poet Andrew Young a prolific writer of hymns who is perhaps best known for ‘There Is A Happy Land’. This major/modal hymn is particularly appropriate for Harvest Festival and has been used effectively as an introit and collection hymn.Herbert Howells is a giant of 20th century Anglican church music the remainder of whose oeuvre is in the process of gaining new appreciation. He wrote this hymn as a commission for The Cambridge Hymnal published in 1967 a collection that combine the novel forms of sung worship with traditional tunes.
