“There is no doubt… that Barmby was the first to adopt the name ‘Communist’ for any organisation in England,” wrote Marxist historian AL Morton.  

Like many other Morning Star readers, I like to educate myself, learning about historical events and the people who took part in them.

It was while I was researching books and articles about French communism, that I came across a name I had never heard before — (John) Goodwyn Barmby, an Englishman and early chartist.  

I began looking up online archives and quickly learned that Barmby was born in Yoxford, a small village in Suffolk, not too far from where I live. My interest was piqued and I wanted to discover more. 

Born the son of a solicitor in 1820, his father’s wishes were that he work in some capacity for the Church of England, but after he died Barmby quickly abandoned the idea. 

He was a self-educated man, choosing to read everything he could about social reform and radicalism. This helped further his natural instincts for equality and justice, so much so that he would often hold impromptu talks on Chartism with the farm labourers of East Anglia.

Due to his charismatic appearance and skill with language, he quickly rose to prominence as a radical. In 1839, he founded the East Suffolk and Yarmouth Chartist Council.  

He moved to London where he married Catherine in 1841, who had herself written articles for the New Moral World, an Owenite socialist newspaper. She was his equal in more ways than one, being an early campaigner for women’s emancipation.

That same year, he founded the Communist Propaganda Society from where he published the rather short-lived paper the Promethean.

Only four issues were published, each one being the focus of a particular topic — communism, organised workers, universal language, and one surrounding the effect the human population was having on the environment and how to counter it through communal living — Green New Deal, anyone?  

He put his words and beliefs into practice, and by 1842 had established the Moreville Communitorium in Hanwell, to the west of London. Having corresponded with the likes of French utopian socialist Charles Fourier and armed with a letter of introduction from England’s equivalent, Robert Owen, he set off to visit the utopian socialists of Paris, as an envoy of the Communist Church.  

Having become disillusioned with the Owenite movement, his later life saw him become a Unitarian Church minister, ending up in Wakefield where he served 21 years. His failing health saw him return to Yoxford where he died in October 1881.  

His grave is located in Framlingham’s cemetery — the headstone reads “Preacher and poet and true worker for God and his fellow men.” I’ve visited and tended to his grave several times as it was in an overgrown and forgotten state when I first discovered it.  

Why is it that Goodwyn Barmby is so rarely mentioned, if at all, in today’s conversations surrounding the history of the class struggle? I don’t rightly know, but I’m looking to play a small part in ensuring his life’s work isn’t consigned to being a brief footnote in our forgotten working-class history.  

If you’re able to, please join me on Sunday October 22 at Framlingham’s Unitarian Meeting House, where I’ll be leading the Norfolk and Suffolk Morning Star Readers and Supporters Group in commemorating the life and times of one of England’s greatest protagonists of communism, universal suffrage, utopian socialism.

Historical accounts of his life and work will be accompanied by readings of his poetry and other writings. This will be followed by a visit to his graveside at the local cemetery a short walk away, to pay our respects and lay a wreath. A drink and a chat will be enjoyed afterwards at the local pub. If we really are to stand on the shoulders of giants, then we must at least acknowledge their presence and deeds.  

To attend this free event it is recommended you register at www.goodwynbarmby.eventbrite.co.uk.