In a Country Churchyard by Ronald Fletcher (BBC Norwich - 1976)

The voice that breathed o'er... Little Stonham. Written and narrated by retired Professor of Sociology at Leeds University Ronald Fletcher, said to be based on a true story, should services in church be read - or sung?
If you had lived in Little Stonham in 1872, you could well have thought that the entire issue of the rights of man hung in the balance on this one question. The Reverend Barlee knew at least one thing for certain, and he took pains to make it plain to everyone. He, and he alone, had the authority to decide. But he was unable to make up his mind. And it is here that the other awkward character in the plot has to be introduced: Harvey.
It was one of a trilogy called “in a Country Churchyard” and Ronald Fletcher subsequently published three books - In a Country Churchyard (which includes the Little Stonham story) published 1978 by Batsford, ISBN 0 7134 1216 x, The Akenham Burial Case - another cracking tale published 1974, Wildwood House ISBN 0 7045 0090 6) and Biography of a Victorian Village (pub Batsford 1977 ISBN 0 7134 0787 5). Much of his research was done at the Suffolk County Archive. They were able to use the villages and original buildings for the reconstructions which we made as authentic as possible (on a very limited budget).
For more information on the tale, please visit the West Gallery Churches website: www.westgallery...
This video was transferred from an oxide Betacam tape onto DVD by the kind services of avtransfers.biz/. This tape is believed to have been taken from the original 16mm BBC negatives.
Director: Christopher Lewis
Produced by: Douglas Salmon
BBC Norwich Production 1976

[@charlierumoldboi3939]

Great book, just finished reading it again. Would love to see the whole series.

[@Bonzibuddy4ever2]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[@AlbertH99]

One of my favourite books