We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves!

I sent the following report to the local newspapers this morning:

"'We Shall Come Rejoicing!'

Over £400 for Charities from 'The Little Chapel in The Fen.'

The annual Harvest Service at 'The Little Chapel in The Fen,' near Upware, was held on Sunday afternoon and over £400 was raised for charities from the packed 'house' of about 90.

The charities supported were 'Help For Heroes' and the Swaffham Prior Scout Group, each of whom will receive £115. In addition, £170.55 was contributed for the Chapel's upkeep and maintenance.

This was the 126th Annual Harvest Service, the Chapel - a former Wesleyan Methodist place of worship in Swaffham Prior Fen - having been built and opened in 1884 to replace an earlier Chapel. 'The Little Chapel in The Fen' is now non-denominational and is kept going by a group of Trustees.

One of the Trustees, Mr Geoffrey Woollard, said that he was delighted with the outcome of this very special annual event where Fen people get together for a fine and joyful 'songs of praise' to celebrate the safe 'bringing in' of the harvest from the Fens.

The service was taken by Mr Peter Cockerton, of Little Thetford, who is another Trustee. Hymns sung were 'Shall we gather at the river?,' Come ye thankful people, come,' We plough the fields and scatter,' How great thou art!,' Great is thy faithfulness,' and 'Bringing in the sheaves.' The last lines of the latter include the following phrases:

'We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.' The words, 'We shall come rejoicing' are painted as a legend on the Chapel wall and a picture of this is above.

The produce was loaded this morning and all taken to the Burwell Day Centre, where one of the ladies was heard to exclaim, 'Christmas has come early!'"

I have found a pleasant rendition of 'Bringing in the sheaves' on YouTube. Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VscGrAuklF4