Made In England

Nearly 300 people, including pupils from Thaxted Primary School headed to Thaxted Church for a special celebration of St. George's Day.

Their purpose was to celebrate the patron Saint of England by singing the patriotic hymn 'I Vow to Thee My Country', written by Gustav Holst.

Thaxted Church's organ as used by Holst

Holst wrote the original piece of music as part of his Planet Suite - which was then married to a poem by Cecil Spring-Rice, to become one of England's most rousing hymns.

In its hymn form the music is known as 'Thaxted', named after the north Essex village that Holst lived and composed some of his greatest works in.

The congregation were accompanied by the very same church organ that he composed 'Thaxted' on, adding even greater significance to the day.

The event was organised by BBC Essex as part of the 'Made in England' series - a project dedicated to exploring how the people and places of England are expressed through creative and artistic forms.

Click on the link below to hear Thaxted's rendition of 'Thaxted'.