Harvest Festival - 1

After acting as deacon at the Chapter Mass in Westminster Cathedral last night, I dashed to the Royal Horticultural Halls for their harvest celebrations. The displays of fruit, vegetables and flowers were magnificent, and after the closing bell was sounded many people stayed behind to sing their favourite harvest hymns. I was in my element!



Come, ye thankful people, come,
Raise the song of harvest-home!
All be safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin;
God, our Maker, doth provide
For our wants to be supplied;
Come to God's own temple come,
Raise the song of harvest-home!

All the world is God's own field,
Fruit unto his praise to yield,
Wheat and tares together sown,
Unto joy or sorrow grown:
First the blade and then the ear,
Then the full corn shall appear:
Grant, O harvest Lord, that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come,
And shall take his harvest home;
From the field shall purge away
All that doth offend, that day;
Give his angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast,
But the fruitful ears to store
In his garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come:
Bring thy final harvest home;
Gather thou thy people in,
Free from sorrow, free from sin,
There for ever to purified
In thy garner to abide:
Come, with all thine angels come,
Raise the glorious harvest-home!

After all the hymn singing we were offered some complimentary cider to drink. I don't think I continued singing as I walked down Victoria Street towards Waterloo Station! I hope they have similar harvest celebrations in the Scottish Highlands.

Happy Harvest!