Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

Author: Henry Alford

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Scripture References:
st. 2 = Mark 4:28
st. 3 = Matt. 13:41-43
st. 4 = Rev. 22:20

Henry Alford (b. London, England, 1810; d. Canterbury, England, 1871) wrote this text and published it in seven stanzas in his Psalms and Hymns (1844). He revised and shortened it for publication in his Poetical Works (1865) and made final changes for his Year of Praise (1867). The latter version is the source of the further revised Psalter Hymnal text.

Written for village harvest festivals in England, the text uses imagery found in two gospel parables: the growing seed (Mark 4:26-29) and the wheat and the weeds (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43). However, the initial agricultural harvest theme becomes an eschatological metaphor for the final judgment when the angels will gather God's chosen people into the "glorious harvest home" and cast the evil "weeds" into the "fire." Thus the text provocatively combines language and imagery that represent annual harvests as well as the ultimate consummation of history.

Alford was born into a family of clergy. He received his education at Trinity College, Cambridge, England, and was ordained in the Church of England in 1833. He became dean of Canterbury Cathedral in 1857, a position he held until his death. A renowned scholar, Alford wrote a four-volume commentary on the Greek New Testament, which became a standard work in its field. He was also a voluminous poet and hymn writer and published Poetical Works (2 vols, 1845) and Hymns for the Sundays and Festivals Throughout the Year (1836).

Liturgical Use:
Best suited for services that focus on the task or mission of the church in the world; associated in popular thought with harvest thanksgiving services, its use on such occasions merits some comment about the meaning of the harvest metaphor. Also use or Pentecost season; worship that focuses on Christ's second coming.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1987
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Come, ye thankful people, come. H. Alford. [Harvest.] First published in his Psalms and Hymns, 1844, No. 116, and subsequently, after revision, in his Poetical Works, 1865, and his Year of Praise, 1867, in 7 stanzas of 8 lines. In 1861 the compilers of Hymns Ancient & Modern included an altered version in that Collection. This was repudiated by tho author, but still retained by the compilers of Hymns Ancient & Modern, with an explanatory note in the Preface in some of the subsequent editions. The revised text in Alford's Poetical Works, 1865, is the authorized text, and that usually given in modern hymnals. This hymn has attained a greater popularity and more extensive use, both in Great Britain and America, than any other of the author's hymns.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Piano/Organ Raise the Song of Harvest Home (A Hymn Concertato on “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come”) Festival Hymns for Organ, Brass, and Timpani—Set 7 Three Hymns of Praise, Set 8 More Piano/Organ...
Choral CANON OF THANKS, A Raise the Song of Harvest Home (A Hymn Concertato on “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come”) Come, You Thankful People, Come - (Choral Score) More Choral...
Instrumental French Horn Solos for Worship (Arranged with Keyboard Accompaniment) French Horn Solos for Worship (Arranged with Keyboard Accompaniment) Fanfares and Finales for Congregational Singing More Instrumental...
Handbells COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME More Handbells...
PowerPoint COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 693) COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME (Hymnal for Worship & Celebration 559) COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME (United Methodist 694) More PowerPoint...

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Instrument/Format AccompanimentAlto SaxBassBassoonBulletin (harmony)Bulletin (melody)CelloClarinetFluteHornLarge PrintLead SheetOboePewProjection (harmony)Projection (melody)Tenor SaxTromboneTrumpetTubaViolaViolin

Hymn Instance Baptist Hymnal 1991 #637Baptist Hymnal 2008 #636Glory to God: the... #367Lift Up Your Hearts:... #473The United Methodist Hymnal #694The Worshiping Church #381Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) #715

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Psalms and Hymns to the Living God (2023), p.452