"Howells was largely responsible for creating, through its textures and harmonic language, music that has come to define the sound of 20th century English church music. Rising from the influences of Vaughan Williams, Stanford, Parry, and Holst, his compositional style took a turn off the well-trod path of his predecessors, slightly more daring, more challenging, yet always well-crafted and serious. This fine program contains many and varied examples that show why Howells will be regarded as one of the last century's most influential and original composers."

"The St. Johns Choir has never sounded better, and the recorded sound is glorious: clear and clean, but with great warmth and a sense of space. The finely nuanced performances are impressively controlled. This disc is a must-have for connoisseurs of English cathedral music and a great introduction to Howells for the novice."

"Howells, having taken the position of acting organist at St. John's, Cambridge, during the Second World War, is given a fitting tribute with this CD, recorded in the chapel almost 60 years on. It culminates in Howells's 1963 spine-tingling tribute to President John F. Kennedy, Take Him, Earth, For Cherishing, sung here with an exquisite intimacy, rarely enjoyed outside of a live performance."

"The series should prove to be a timely enrichment of the Naxos catalogue and is off to an excellent start."

"Naxos here offers a generous selection in seductive performances from the choir of St John's College, Cambridge. This, helped by immaculate sound at once atmospheric and cleanly focused, will have King's Choir down the road looking to its laurels."