Our Story - Burn Your Money Documentary

Jak Hutchcraft and Paul Blue, Burn Your Money, 2021

Burn Your Money: A Short Documentary

Just before our 2019 event at the Cockpit, Church of Burn was approached by Jak Hutchcraft with a proposal to create a documentary for Vice. We agreed to the project under one strict condition: no film crew in the Ritual space, and absolutely no filming of the Ritual itself. Vice, however, considered shots of the Ritual essential and chose not to proceed with the project. Jak, undeterred, decided to take it on as an independent endeavour.

Jak and his collaborator Paul joined us for the Synod, Service, and Ritual as members of the congregation. While they did manage to capture some sneaky phone footage (a reminder: no phones in the Ritual space, please!), we granted them access to the Altar once the Ritual had concluded to capture the shots they needed.

The documentary features interviews with Rev Jonathan and Daisy Campbell from Church of Burn, along with various members of our congregation. Jak also took to the streets, interviewing members of the public about their thoughts on the radical act of burning money. Like many projects during 2020, the editing process was delayed by COVID, but the film was finally completed and released in late spring 2021.

Jak and Paul's film captures a pivotal moment in the story of our Church. It is a testament to the intrigue and provocation that money burning brings to the public consciousness. "Burn Your Money" is more than a documentary; it’s a reflection on our complex relationship with currency and a window into our Church's unfolding journey.