"Come, Ye Thankful People, Come" was written by Henry Alford. Many Christians are in the habit of giving thanks before meals. It is said that Henry Alford also gave thanks after meals, standing and offering his gratitude to God for the blessings just received. He also did this at the end of the day. Indeed, Alford was one of the "thankful people."
But this song isn't just about thanksgiving. It is also about work completed, a job well done. It is about aching muscles and full barns, sun-reddened faces and meals of plenty.
It was written to be used at harvest festivals in villages throughout England. Each village observed a celebration whenever it brought in its harvest, and Alford, one of the leading churchmen in England in the nineteenth century, provided this hymn of thanks. It was originally called "After Harvest."Of course, this is not just about the work we humans do. It is also about God's work--providing growth to the crops and also causing growth in us.
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