The producers of hymnals hate 6/8 time. They will do anything to pound the march or the dirge out of a processional or recessional hymn.
The transcription of the Thaxted tune shown above just about requires some higher math. I finally convinced myself that those measures (one and a half beats plus half a beat plus three-quarters of a beat plus a quarter of a beat) do add up to three beats each.
Where there's a will there's a way, and they by golly waltzed it!
