The Ditchling Carol

Carols originated in France, beginning a tradition of singing and dancing in a circle, passing songs of celebration down through the generations. Eventually they became solely associated with Christmas, utilising popular tunes and language popular with everyday folk. One such carol has links to the village of Ditchling as Robert Veitch discovered

The Ditchling

CAROL

The composer of the lyric Sussex, he led the local Glee Club for The Ditchling Carol was who enjoyed singing and performing William Robert Spencer in the round. His contribution to The who was born in 1769. Ditchling Carol was to compose the As grandson of the 3rd Duke of tune. Ironically, Peter Parsons died Marlborough he was educated at on Christmas Eve in 1901. The carol Harrow and Oxford. After a brief remains popular within the village, stint in Parliament he realised he and an annual rendition usually preferred to write verse and poetry. takes place during Boxing Day, William Robert Spencer spent his during an open-air performance of final years in Paris and died there the local Mummers play. in 1834. www.ditchlinghistoryproject.org/ Peter Parsons was a Ditchling a-winters-tale.html shoemaker born in 1825. During a Listen to a recording of the carol at healthy period of folk singing within www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0YE1Zr5rww

Be merry all, be merry all With holly dress the festive all Prepare the song, the feast, the ball To welcome merry Christmas

Chorus (after each verse) And, oh! remember, gentles gay To you who bask in fortune’s ray The year is all a holiday The poor have only Christmas When you, with velvets mantled o’er Defy December’s tempest’s roar Oh, spare one garment from your store To clothe the poor at Christmas

When you the costly banquet deal To guests, who never famine feel Oh, spare one morsel from your meal To feed the poor at Christmas When generous wine your care controls And gives new joy to happiest souls Oh, spare one goblet from your bowls To cheer the poor at Christmas

So shall each note of mirth appear More sweet to heaven than praise or prayer And angels, in their carols there Shall bless the poor at Christmas