However, his former pupil and biographer Paul Spicer contends that Howells first showed the music to Herbert Sumsion, organist of Gloucester Cathedral, who in turn showed it to Gerald Finzi, and that only after these two expressed their enthusiasm did Howells show the music to Vaughan Williams. The title 'Hymnus Paradisi' was suggested by Sumsion.
However, according to Paul Spicer, Howells initially shared his composition with Herbert Sumsion, Gloucester Cathedral's organist, who then showed it to Gerald Finzi, and it wasn't until both of these individuals expressed their enthusiasm that Howells presented the music to Vaughan Williams. The title 'Hymnus Paradisi' was suggested by Sumsion.