Carols at the Cross

Carols at the Cross is a a celebration of traditional carol singing held on Ryton Village Green each year on the last Tuesday before Christmas Eve. It Started with a group of brass players from the Ryton based ceilidh band 'Brass Neck' playing some carols under the street lamp by the old village cross. Before long it had grown into one of the most popular carol singing events in the North East.

Each event starts with a welcoming peal of bells from the new bells in Ryton Church Tower at around six o'clock. At six-thirty the Brass Band strikes up with a short overture and then a plays a set of carols for everyone to join in. Song sheets are provided.

There is a short break with one or two songs from the ever popular Caedmon Choir and occasionally some traditional sword dancing or a mummers play when a collection is made. All profits made go to St Oswald's Hospice.

The band continue with the carols and after a short thank you from the organisors, the crowd disperse, mostly in the direction of the Old Cross Public House where the festivities continue with some more secular seasonal songs which more recently have included some Sheffield Carols from the villages around that Yorkshire town.