When in 1904 the Reverend Percy Dearmer asked Vaughan Williams to be the Music Editor of the proposed English Hymnal, he said that the work would probably take two months. In fact it took two years. As Vaughan Williams put it:

“I decided, if I was to do the book at all I must be thoroughly adventurous and honest ... As regards honesty, the actual origin of the tune must be stated and any alteration duly noted ... I intended the music to be congregational, both in matter and manner”.

In a bold move for its time, Vaughan Williams included a number of folk-songs in the English Hymnal. He defended their inclusion by saying: “The only ‘correct’ music is that which is beautiful and noble.”

Whilst Vaughan Williams avoided the ‘specially composed tune’ as far as possible, he did contribute ‘a few tunes of my own’ which are now justly famous. For the English Hymnal these were:

152	Come down, O Love Divine (Down Ampney)
524	God be with you till we meet again (Randolph)
624	Hail Thee, Festival Day (Salva festa dies)
641	For all the Saints (Sine Nomine)

For the Songs of Praise in 1925 he composed the following hymn tunes:

053	Saviour, again to hear Thy dear Name (Magda)
058	The night is come like to the day (Oakley)
213	Servants of God, or sons (Cumnor)
316	England arise! The long, long night is over (Guildford)
392	At the name of Jesus (King’s Weston)

Alongside these original compositions there are many fine arrangements by Vaughan Williams, including:

	ENGLISH HYMNAL
402	He who would valiant be (Monk’s Gate)
485	Teach me, my God and King (Sandys)
	SONGS OF PRAISE
200	Abide with me (Eventide)
654	The King of Love my Shepherd is

Such wonderful hymns provide immense choice for churches worldwide to sing on 12th October 2008.