Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
"Readings and Carol songs"
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols was first aired on BBC radio from 1928 and on BBC Television from 1954 from Kings College Cambridge. However, the history of this service dates back to 1883 when it began to gain popularity within the Church of England, the wider Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church in England and Wales. The service has since been adapted by many other churches across the world, particularly in English speaking countries.
In 1918, the Rev. Eric Milner-White introduced the service to the choir at Kings College Cambridge. With a few alterations the service has virtually remained the same. The service now begins with the carol “Once in Royal David’s City”. The opening verse is always sung by a solo voice from the college choir.
In the early 1930’s the BBC began broadcasting the service on their overseas programmes and it is estimated that it is listened to by millions of people around the world.
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols was first aired on BBC radio from 1928 and on BBC Television from 1954 from Kings College Cambridge. However, the history of this service dates back to 1883 when it began to gain popularity within the Church of England, the wider Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church in England and Wales. The service has since been adapted by many other churches across the world, particularly in English speaking countries.
In 1918, the Rev. Eric Milner-White introduced the service to the choir at Kings College Cambridge. With a few alterations the service has virtually remained the same. The service now begins with the carol “Once in Royal David’s City”. The opening verse is always sung by a solo voice from the college choir.
In the early 1930’s the BBC began broadcasting the service on their overseas programmes and it is estimated that it is listened to by millions of people around the world.
Wherever the service is heard and however it is adapted, whether the music is provided by choir or congregation, the pattern and strength of the service, as Dean Milner-White pointed out, derive from the lessons and not the music. ‘The main theme is the development of the loving purposes of God …’ Through the readings from the Old Testament through to the gospels we see the history of salvation portrayed. Local interests and the needs of our world appear in the bidding prayers. Many of those who took part in the first service must have recalled those killed in the Great War when it came to the famous passage ‘all those who rejoice with us but on another shore and in a greater light’. The centre of the service is still found by those who ‘go in heart and mind’ and who consent to follow where the story leads.
Wherever the service is heard and however it is adapted, whether the music is provided by choir or congregation, the pattern and strength of the service, as Dean Milner-White pointed out, derive from the lessons and not the music. ‘The main theme is the development of the loving purposes of God …’ Through the readings from the Old Testament through to the gospels we see the history of salvation portrayed. Local interests and the needs of our world appear in the bidding prayers. Many of those who took part in the first service must have recalled those killed in the Great War when it came to the famous passage ‘all those who rejoice with us but on another shore and in a greater light’. The centre of the service is still found by those who ‘go in heart and mind’ and who consent to follow where the story leads.
The service begins with a reading from Genesis 3: 8 – 19 and ends with the reading from the prologue of John’s gospel, John1: 1-14. Each reading throughout the service is followed by one or two carols sung either by the choir or the congregation. The final carol is usually “Hark the herald angels sing”
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols held on Christmas Eve at King’s College Chapel is open to the general public. The service is very popular, and some people start queuing the night before as demand for seats always exceeds the number available.
The service is broadcast on BBC 2 at 3pm on Christmas Eve and on BBC Radio 4 or on BBC Sounds App.
By sr Marion Gormley, community of London.
The service begins with a reading from Genesis 3: 8 – 19 and ends with the reading from the prologue of John’s gospel, John1: 1-14. Each reading throughout the service is followed by one or two carols sung either by the choir or the congregation. The final carol is usually “Hark the herald angels sing”
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols held on Christmas Eve at King’s College Chapel is open to the general public. The service is very popular, and some people start queuing the night before as demand for seats always exceeds the number available.
The service is broadcast on BBC 2 at 3pm on Christmas Eve and on BBC Radio 4 or on BBC Sounds App.
By sr Marion Gormley, community of London.
