LORD OF ALL HOPEFULNESS, LORD OF ALL JOY

The hymn Lord of all Hopefulness, was composed by English writer Jan Struther, which was the pen name for the writer Joyce Maxtone Graham Pkazcek (1901-1953) who wrote many hymns under this pseudonym.  It was prepared at the request of Percy Dreamer, with whom she was working on an enlarged edition of English Hymnal Songs of Praise in 1931.  This hymn speaks of a spiritual life immersed in prayer throughout the day, calling on the abiding presence of God at the break of the day, the noon of the day, the eve of the day and the end of the day.   It is set to the Irish folksong melody Slane, named after the Hill of Slane, the site in County Meath where St Patrick lit an Easter Fire in defiance of the pagan King.