I'm not clear what you mean, Dick- which is the 'hymn tune' & why do you say that?

I'm pretty sure Bert Lloyd didn't know Tommy Armstrong's direction as to the tune, and set it to the now established tune from his Balkan collections, but it's a long time ago.

Louis Killen knew Lloyd well & I suspect that's how it got into circulation, also via the EP 'Northumbrian Garland' - early 60s?- that's where I first heard it....