A forgotten Christmas carol written in 1933 has been rediscovered by Barnsley Museums.
Michael Hardy, Barnsley Museums’ Digital Engagement Curator, found the carol while searching for newspaper articles about the opening of Barnsley Town Hall, which was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales in December 1933.
He found that on 23 December 1933 the Barnsley Chronicle published the music and lyrics of a new carol, ‘Christmas Eve’, written by Barnsley man Arthur Godfrey.
According to census records, Arthur Godfrey was born around 1873 in Barnsley. The most recent record of him before 1933 is the 1921 census, which shows him living in Barnsley with his wife Jane and their six children, aged between 1 and 17. He gives his profession as a glass bottle finisher at Debron & Nall glass bottle makers.
To celebrate the 90th anniversary of Barnsley Town Hall opening and the publication of the carol, Tegwen Roberts, a member of the museum team, has recorded herself singing the carol, which you can hear below:
The lyrics of the carol are:
The chime of bells inspires the midnight breeze,
And greets with fond caress the whispering trees;
The moon-white hills around, in snow-shine splendour crowned,
With pealing joys resound of Christmas Bells
CHORUS: Glad tidings of the Saviour bring;
Peace reigneth as ye gaily ring;
Ring on, ring on, ring on while the
Merry breezes sing of Christmas Bells
From out the ageless Deep, where sleepeth Time,
Steal silvery dreamings of the deathless chime,
Heard long ago by men, whose wandering souls were then
Refreshed once more again by Christmas Bells
The child who to the earth the Father gave,
From maze of Darkness human souls to save,
Speak to mankind this hour, from every belfry tower
His voice the vibrant power of Christmas Bells
The echoes softly die within the night
But brighter shine the rays of Christmas Light
For lands and rolling seas, all nationalities
Sing to your harmonies Sweet Christmas Bells