Well known as a collector of folk songs, RVW also made a huge mark on church music as the editor of The English Hymnal (1906, revised 1933), Songs of Praise (1925, enlarged 1931) and The Oxford Book of Carols (1928). He was a proponent of unison singing by the congregation, and many of his own tunes and arrangements are for this medium.
Linking these two passions, From Pub to Pulpit was an imaginative and rousing concert tour, encompassing, pubs, churches and folk festivals which brought together Broomdasher – an a cappella folk group – with Coracle – a classically trained instrumental trio. In collaboration with the local musical community, different programmes were created for each venue, bringing to life the musical journey of folk songs RVW collected, and later ‘borrowed’ for hymns when editing The English Hymnal. From Pub to Pulpit opened in Down Ampney where RVW was born, and ended in London, just across Regent’s Park from RVW’s final home in Hanover Terrace.
