New film celebrates rediscovered 90-year-old Christmas carol 

Barnsley Museums and Fusion, Barnsley’s Cultural Education Partnership, are thrilled to announce an exciting new campaign, centred around a short film for the recently uncovered local carol “Christmas Eve”. The new film, celebrating the carol, engaged the local community and encouraged contributions of photos, videos, voices and personal memories.  

  

Last Christmas, we uncovered a previously lost 90-year-old Christmas carol, which was published in the Barnsley Chronicle in 1933. The carol was written by Barnsley resident and bottle maker, Arthur Godfrey, and is inspired by the Christmas Bell chimes which are traditionally rung by some churches at midnight on Christmas Eve. 

  

The short film has been co-created by children and young people from across the borough, working with filmmakers Studio Bokehgo, as part of Fusion’s Festival of Joy. Delving deeper into the history of the carol, the film explores other writing from Arthur Godfrey with contributions from local school groups and renowned poet, Ian McMillan. 

  

The film premiered on Tuesday 10 December at a free screening event held at Parkway Cinema, as part of the Know Your Neighbourhood project. The film was also streamed on Barnsley Museums’ YouTube channel on the same day and you can view it here https://youtu.be/AbwZC3T-XWs   

 Additionally, the song will play a prominent role in the Civic Service on Wednesday 18 December in Barnsley. The project has been funded by Arts Council England, Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust and Barnsley Council Children’s Services, with support from Barnsley Music Service and Barnsley Archives and Local Studies.  

You can find out more about the Barnsley Carol in this latest blog from Barnsley Museums  

Arthur Godfrey – A Barnsley Christmas Eve Carol – 2024 Update – Barnsley Museums Blogsite