The Parson & the Songmen

By: Mike Bosworth
  • Summary

  • The Reverend Sabine Baring Gould was an exceptional parson and squire from Devonshire, England.
    He is probably best remembered as the composer of the hymn 'Onward Christian Soldiers'.
    Born in Exeter in 1834, he died at his estate, Lewtrenchard Manor in West Devon, in 1924.
    As 2024 is the centenary of his death it gives me the opportunity to spotlight what he considered to be the most important achievement of his life, that of collecting the old folk songs of Devonshire, and later Cornwall, as he termed it, 'from the mouths of the people'.
    Join me as I tell stories about, and sing songs from, this far from ordinary Victorian country parson as he travelled by pony and trap across his native Devonshire seeking out songs that now form a major part of the English folk song tradition.

    © 2025 The Parson & the Songmen
    Show More Show Less
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2
Episodes
  • S2 18 Our Jolly Wassail!
    Jan 8 2025

    Send us a text

    A Happy New Year To You All!
    Join Mike in this first podcast of 2025 for the 18th episode of the second series of The Parson and the Songmen. This time around Mr Bosworth looks into the tradition of wassailing, which can involve drinking and making lots of noise... sounds a lot like Mike really!

    Support the show

    *Please can you help by supporting the show. I have always kept the episodes commercial-free, but in order for the podcasts to continue I do need some support, due to ongoing running costs. So, please support me (if you can) by donating. For details of how to make a donation click on support. Any help would be appreciated but if you were able to make a donation of $15 or more then I will send you a copy of my CD By Chance it was, recorded live at the Eden Project in Cornwall, on receipt of a mailing address!
    *theparsonandthesongmen@outlook.com if you have any questions about the podcast series, or The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould. Also please contact me if you would be interested in booking me for a talk/gig.
    *Jon Tidball, podcast series producer - jontidball@hotmail.co.uk.
    *Please follow the facebook page for these podcasts:
    https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Parson-and-the-Songmen/100093220748945/
    *Thimblerigg videos on YouTube for more songs collected by The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould
    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thimblerigg+videos
    *Sabine Baring-Gould Centenary Celebration Group - 1924 to 2024 for more https://www.sbgcentenary.co.uk/
    *
    Mike O'Connor. Cornish-based musicologist, folk singer and story-teller.
    http://www.lyngham.co.uk/
    https://lyngham-house-music.sumupstore.com/products
    https://prophecyofmerlin.com/

    Show More Show Less
    13 mins
  • S2 17 (Return Of The) Bumper Festive Edition
    Dec 25 2024

    Send us a text

    Happy Christmas! In this episode we join Mike on a road trip around Cornwall to look into the surprising history of carols and their place in the church. If that wasn't enough Mike also delves into the mysterious world of 'the little folk' or piskies, as they are known in Cornwall. Add a generous helping of Christmas song and you indeed have a bumper festive edition!

    Support the show

    *Please can you help by supporting the show. I have always kept the episodes commercial-free, but in order for the podcasts to continue I do need some support, due to ongoing running costs. So, please support me (if you can) by donating. For details of how to make a donation click on support. Any help would be appreciated but if you were able to make a donation of $15 or more then I will send you a copy of my CD By Chance it was, recorded live at the Eden Project in Cornwall, on receipt of a mailing address!
    *theparsonandthesongmen@outlook.com if you have any questions about the podcast series, or The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould. Also please contact me if you would be interested in booking me for a talk/gig.
    *Jon Tidball, podcast series producer - jontidball@hotmail.co.uk.
    *Please follow the facebook page for these podcasts:
    https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Parson-and-the-Songmen/100093220748945/
    *Thimblerigg videos on YouTube for more songs collected by The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould
    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thimblerigg+videos
    *Sabine Baring-Gould Centenary Celebration Group - 1924 to 2024 for more https://www.sbgcentenary.co.uk/
    *
    Mike O'Connor. Cornish-based musicologist, folk singer and story-teller.
    http://www.lyngham.co.uk/
    https://lyngham-house-music.sumupstore.com/products
    https://prophecyofmerlin.com/

    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • S2 16 Retying The Celtic Knot
    Dec 11 2024

    Send us a text

    As we near the end of the centenary year of the Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould's death, Mike ponders why the folksong collectors who came after him did not pursue the idea that many of the songs and tunes of Devon and Cornwall had celtic roots? We revisit the interview with Cornish-based musicologist Mike O'Connor from Series Two, Podcast 11 to reinforce Mike's view as to whether there was a positive link.

    Support the show

    *Please can you help by supporting the show. I have always kept the episodes commercial-free, but in order for the podcasts to continue I do need some support, due to ongoing running costs. So, please support me (if you can) by donating. For details of how to make a donation click on support. Any help would be appreciated but if you were able to make a donation of $15 or more then I will send you a copy of my CD By Chance it was, recorded live at the Eden Project in Cornwall, on receipt of a mailing address!
    *theparsonandthesongmen@outlook.com if you have any questions about the podcast series, or The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould. Also please contact me if you would be interested in booking me for a talk/gig.
    *Jon Tidball, podcast series producer - jontidball@hotmail.co.uk.
    *Please follow the facebook page for these podcasts:
    https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Parson-and-the-Songmen/100093220748945/
    *Thimblerigg videos on YouTube for more songs collected by The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould
    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thimblerigg+videos
    *Sabine Baring-Gould Centenary Celebration Group - 1924 to 2024 for more https://www.sbgcentenary.co.uk/
    *
    Mike O'Connor. Cornish-based musicologist, folk singer and story-teller.
    http://www.lyngham.co.uk/
    https://lyngham-house-music.sumupstore.com/products
    https://prophecyofmerlin.com/

    Show More Show Less
    19 mins

What listeners say about The Parson & the Songmen

Average customer ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.