1976: EAST END JESUS | Nationwide | Voice of the People | BBC Archive

“It’s a sort of Cockney Godspell.”
It’s 1976, and a play is being rehearsed in the streets of the East End.
Tony, who plays Jesus Christ, is missing his beloved West Ham playing Eintracht to re-enact the procession to Calvary, where Jesus will be crucified.
There’s singing, acting and dancing, culminating in a sombre torch-lit scene as Jesus mounts the cross.
But the patrons of local pubs have thrown eggs as they rehearse in the council estates. It’s hardly the most church-going neighbourhood. So why put it on here?
Clip taken from Nationwide, originally broadcast on BBC One on Wednesday, 14 April, 1976.
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[@Andrew-xg5ge]

I remember taking part in March for Jesus in London during the 1980s.

[@Buff_Cupcake]

Awesome seeing Jarvis Cocker getting involved with this procession on the right at 1:55

[@hopebgood]

ha ha yeah!

[@76ToneCrome]

I wonder if he became a success...as a jeweller, I mean.

[@mariannehavisham8323]

Funny what they said about passing pubs and not getting the warmest welcome.. Christmas Eve we often used to get drunks coming in for midnight mass after the pub closed! Touching.. They were welcomed, a bit moving -that they wanted to come to church, used to happen every year so I'm told, because they tended to be worse for wear it was discussed in terms of wanting to welcome all but also needing to take care that those 'worse for wear' weren't too disruptive.. but nice that they wanted to come and that they were welcomed regardless of the condition they may be in.. as it should be..

[@Londonechoes]

Great video!

[@moonlightbay4814]

3:18 That is Trevor Huddleston, isn't it? It's weird that he gets no introduction.

[@ajs41]

Yes, but he was so well-known at the time he probably didn't need an introduction.

[@mrroobarb]

8:52 - looks like the guy out of George and Mildred, think he was the neighbour - Tristans' dad

[@NOT.MI5.MI6.]

😆😆yes

[@mainstay.]

Back when a vicar from private schooling with the accent to prove it could talk about the East End like he meant it.

[@mariannehavisham8323]

Having a 'posh voice' is proof of nothing

[@mariannehavisham8323]

Judas actually kissed Jesus on the lips in the gospels, they changed that bit I notice.. The true Biblical scene is captured in many classical Christian paintings.. I expect they altered that bit due to homophobia.. He says the man I kiss is the one you want, no kiss here I see.. maybe it was perceived as 'too gay' in a homophobic society? But it's in the Bible!

[@goldieandblackie]

Health & Safety would have had a field day.

[@hopebgood]

How bizarre.

[@ekurisona663]

search Jesus of Montreal

[@user-ub1dz8js7s]

There aren't enough British street procession to celebrate traditions like this. Spain has Holy Week at Easter (Semana Santa) where most cities and towns have big wooden floats wheeled long the streets depicting scenes from the Bible and people dress up in hooded gowns with candles at night and brass band music etc We just have trick or treat night, Bonfire Night fireworks and the odd Royal pageantry or military ceremony that are getting rare these days. Hunting for the chocolate Easter egg in your private back garden or carol singing doesn't count.

[@kevinericsongs]

do people even go carol singing any more? we haven't had any in our area for years

[@mariannehavisham8323]

Actually stuff like this does happen in England on palm Sunday and Easter

[@mariannehavisham8323]

​@@kevinericsongsyes they do

[@syedalamgir5838]

Religion means faith.

[@AlanTaylormusic]

Never happen now as there's no Christians left in the east end 🙄

[@heraldeventsandfilms5970]

Says yet another EDL r.sole. People like you don't matter.

[@_Too_Late]

@@heraldeventsandfilms5970 You people are so spiteful & hateful, relishing being on the front line of the replacement of Native Europeans in England. Horrible

[@Stejll1]

Back when England was a Christian country,i remember it well😢

[@NOT.MI5.MI6.]

OK comrade calm down

[@_Too_Late]

Before England became part of the grubby caliphate

[@brumylee]

Imagine them doing that in londistan now

[@mariannehavisham8323]

There are still palm Sunday marches and stuff like this around Easter