A Christmas Carol - Kayleigh Northall reflects on our festive social
Image by Kayleigh Northall
The weather was miserable, very apt and in the spirit of Ebenezer Scrooge himself. The beautifully ornate Upper Chapel in Sheffield was the setting for the annual reading of A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens’ beloved Christmas tale about a cold-hearted miser who despises Christmas. His redemption by visits from the ghost of Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and yet to come has become a defining tale of the Christmas holiday. The story published in London in 1843 sees the protagonist transformed into a kinder gentler man. A Christmas Carol has never been out of print and has been translated into several languages, the story has been adapted many times for film, opera, and other media.
The Upper Chapel in Sheffield, is a Unitarian meeting place. The Chapel is a Grade II listed building and was founded in 1660 by the vicar of Sheffield, The Reverend James Fisher. After walking through the portico, you are faced with the beautiful vestibule with a tablet on the wall depicting the history of the Chapel. Through the double wooden doors, the serenity overwhelms you; the smell of the wooden pews and the silence leaves you feeling relaxed and peaceful. People are milling about and offering refreshments of hot drinks and mince pies. While everyone seats themselves and the lights go dim. The Dickens Fellowship (Sheffield Branch) introduces the evening, Patrick Smith will present the reading. The fairy lights are twinkling around the Chapel and around the Pulpit. A lone Christmas tree stands by the altar. Patrick strikes a match and lights a candle, signalling the start of the evening.
And so it began, Patrick said the opening words… Marley was dead. Patrick’s tone and pace, and pause were perfect throughout, waiting for the appropriate giggling from the 100+ audience. During the first half of the monologue, I found myself transfixed, drawn into the story, the atmosphere, the sounds. As if I was the only one in the room.
Scrooge met the spirit of Jacob Marley who warned him of the upcoming visit of the three spirits and, as the clock strikes midnight, the ghost of Christmas past arrives, and without any explanation, Scrooge is whisked away on a journey through his earlier life. Scrooge is transported back in time, reliving his past and reflecting on his mistakes and regrets.
Patrick stops and gently blows out the candle; the lights are switched back on. I am brought out of my Dickens trance, and everyone mingles through to the refreshments. Tea, coffee, and mince pies served by friendly members of the Chapel and The Dickens Fellowship. There is an option to donate to the Homeless & Rootless at Christmas (HARC) charity, a seasonal charity that opens its doors each Christmas to provide a safe, warm day shelter for homeless, rootless, and vulnerable people in Sheffield. Over the festive period they offer hot meals, warm clothing, friendly company, and essential wellbeing services during what can be the coldest and loneliest time of the year.
Patrick reappears, the candle is re-lit, and the lights go low. Time for the second spirit, the ghost of Christmas present, who takes Scrooge to see the happiness and joy of those around him, including his nephew and his own employees. Everyone was hanging on the words of Patrick and the story of Tiny Tim. Finally, the spirit of Christmas yet to come appears to Scrooge and shows him the consequences of his actions and the bleak future that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Each ghost plays a critical role in Scrooge’s transformation, and their visits leave a lasting impact on him.
The story of Scrooge serves as a reminder of the power of redemption and the importance of spreading love and kindness towards each other, especially during the holiday season.
Patrick blows the candle out for the last time and the audience breaks into a round of applause. After a thank you from the fellowship, we all filter into the cold December air. The evening felt lighter after hearing a heart-warming, even romanticised story of Dickensian Christmas.
A magnificent, thought-provoking performance from Patrick and The Dickens Fellowship (Sheffield Branch), set in the atmospheric Upper Chapel. A wonderful evening for all ages in a grand setting.
Reflection by Kayleigh Northall.
