Harvest Thanksgiving in the Anglican Tradition

Harvest Thanksgiving in the Anglican tradition is a joyful celebration of gratitude for the year’s agricultural bounty - a Christian response to the natural rhythms of creation. While the idea of giving thanks for the harvest is rooted in ancient traditions, the form of the Harvest Festival familiar to Anglican churches today dates primarily to the 19th century.

The practice has deep biblical roots. In the Old Testament, festivals such as the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) were held as expressions of thanksgiving for the land’s abundance. These celebrations marked significant moments in the agricultural calendar and affirmed the people’s reliance on God for sustenance. However, no formal Christian harvest festival took shape in the early centuries of the Church; instead, harvest thanksgivings remained local and informal traditions well into the modern era.

The turning point came in 1843, when Rev. Robert Hawker, vicar of Morwenstow in Cornwall, organized a special service of thanksgiving for the harvest. He encouraged his parishioners to bring produce to decorate the church, which would then be distributed to those in need. This simple yet profound act resonated deeply, and the idea quickly spread across the Victorian Church of England. It aligned with a growing interest in liturgical symbolism, rural heritage, and Christian social car - becoming a cherished part of Anglican worship.

Today, Harvest Thanksgiving remains a much-loved tradition in many Anglican churches - a time to give thanks, celebrate creation, and share generously with others.

Sebastian Moreno
Director of Music