"Will the Circle Be Unbroken" is a hymn by Ada R. Habershon and Charles H. Gabriel, about 1908 (data recently posted to thread 2479: Will the Circle ). Completely new words were set to it, apparently by A. P. Carter and possibly others, but the same title was kept. Somehow, possibly through the Grand Old Opry, the hymn got credited to "Fanny" Crosby, a prolific hymn writer, but who did not write it. See above mentioned thread, which gives a link to the Cyberhymnal. The title of the later song is often changed to "Can The Circle Be Unbroken" (see the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album of that name).

Ralph Vaughan Williams, in addition to his original scores, collected many folk songs and arranged them for chorus and/or orchestra. He wrote new music or arranged music for both hymns and folk songs. He "stole" nothing; everything was credited or acknowledged. A superb composer and musician, he should be considered among the greatest of the English composers.