This anthem was written in 1988 and was commissioned by Ian Hare who wanted a piece for a concert he was to conduct given by The Lancaster Singers of which he was Director of Music. At this time, Ian was my supervisor at Lancaster University for an MPhil degree dealing with writing music to be sung by congregations. Influenced by the writing for organ and choir by Benjamin Britten, the quirky text comes in useful at Harvest time or celebrations of creation in all its colour and variety of species.

At a time when the wellbeing of our globe seems to be increasingly at risk due to climate change, giving thanks to God for what we have and what Hopkins so wonderfully describes in his panoply of imagery seems appropriate.