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Henry Alford (1810 – 1871) was wrote “Come Ye Thankful People, Come” while he was the rector of St Michael & All Angels, Aston Sandford in Buckinghamshire, England, one of the smallest churches in England. It first appeared in Hymns and Psalms in 1844. The hymn was set to the tune St. George’s, Windsor in 1858 by Sir George Job Elvey (1816 – 1893) St. George’s, Windsor in 1858.
Originally the hymn had seven verses, but was reduced to only four when republished by Alford in 1865, in his Poetical Works. It was further revised when published again in 1867 in Year of Praise. In addition to being a well-known hymn for Harvest Festival, it is also popular in the United States as a Thanksgiving Hymn.
The first verse is written as a celebration of the harvest, calling for people to give thanks to God for it. The last two verses are believed to be based on the Parable of the Weeds or Tares.