Ray,
More likely someone changed it from something less acceptable.

Gwilym, 'Okai'? So what was your local chorus then?

East Yorkshire version quite naturally is close to the Durham one.

I do believe. I will believe
Old Johnny Booker was a gay old bugger and a gay old bugger was he.

As for origins, I'd guess something like the Ramblers Association. They were very active just before WWII, 20s 30s, and produced their own songbooks. The 'God made man' verse of course is much older.