According to the "Companion to Rejoice and Sing":

"This robust melody has served two folk-songs, 'Van Dieman's Land' and 'Young Henry the Poacher'. It was collected by Vaughan Williams at East Horndon, Essex on 23 April 1904 and at King's Lynn, Norfolk, on 9 Jan. 1905. He arranged it for 'O God of earth and altar' in eh 1906, and the partnership has become well established.

The tune should not be hurried. Erik Routley remarked that the final four lines of the hymn 'must be a real blaze of colour'."