Fred Pratt Green

Our offertory this Sunday – “Harvest Hymn” – features a text by one of the last century’s most prolific hymn writers: Fred Pratt Green. (For an interesting discussion of this particular text, check out: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-for-the-fruit-of-this-creation.)

 

Fred Pratt Green’s life encompassed nearly the entirety of the 20^th century. Born in 1903 near Liverpool, he enjoyed a long career (44 years) as a Methodist minister before turning his attention to hymn writing. Nearly all of his 300 hymn texts were penned during the 70s-80s, after his retirement from the ministry. He died peacefully in Norwich, his retirement home, at the age of 97 in 2000.

 

Pratt Green’s interest in hymn writing during his retirement may have been a very logical hobby. After all, he had only recently completed some four decades of pastoral ministry and was well-versed in theology. He was also an amateur poet and playwright, so the two – creative writing and theology – seem to combine well into the creation of hymn texts. Because his background was in preaching and church administration, his hymn texts are relevant to the contemporary church and often fill a void of topics not often covered by other hymn writers of the past.

 

His “Harvest Hymn” – now usually referred to by its first line, “For the Fruits of This Creation” – is one of FPG’s hymns most often chosen by hymnal committees in the United States. Indeed, it is included in Glory to God. C. Michael Hawn explains: “...published as “Harvest Hymn” in the British Methodist Recorder in August 1970, this hymn combines our gratitude to God for the bounties of the earth with our responsibility to care for our neighbor through “the harvests we are sharing” (stanza 2). Green’s concern for justice and spreading a social gospel is almost always evident in his hymns.”

 

In our service this weekend, I’m joined by my friend, Zack Morris, in the offering of this text. It is set to a familiar Welsh tune, Ar Hyd Y Nos, which means “throughout the night.” Enjoy!