E G Monk is often confused with W H Monk, the composer of ‘Eventide’. This Monk was not related in any way. His career was entirely outside London, serving at St Peter’s College Radley, and as Organist at York Minster from 1859 to 1883. Francis Pott served as the vicar of a number of English parishes and was on the first committee of Hymns Ancient and Modern. He was asked to write a hymn for the opening of the organ at Winwick Church, Lancashire, in 1861, and it was for that occasion that E G Monk wrote the tune, which has remained associated with it. When published for the first time in 1866 it was headed ‘For the Dedication of an Organ, or for a Meeting of Choirs’. With its cheerful matter-of-fact tune it has served such occasions well, and there have been few rivals to it until the present generation.

from notes by Alan Luff © 2001