Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
For many thousands of people over the world, me included, Christmas really starts just after 3pm on Christmas Eve when the haunting and beautiful sound of a solo treble voice sings the first verse of ‘Once in royal David’s city’, from Kings College Cambridge.
The service was first held on Christmas Eve 1918, and since 1919 has always begun with the hymn ‘Once in royal David’s city. It was first broadcast in 1928 and in the 1930’s the BBC began broadcasting the service on overseas programmes as well as Radio4 in the United Kingdom. Nowadays, it is estimated to be heard by millions of listeners worldwide.
The original service was adapted from an order of service drawn up by E W Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury, for use in the wooden shed which then served as his cathedral in Truro on Christmas Eve 1880. In recent years the service has been used as a vehicle to introduce new carols by successive organists and choirmasters which include famous names in church music such as Boris Ord, Harold Darke, Sir David Willcocks, Philip Ledger and the current choirmaster Stephen Cleobury, but the backbone of the service, the lessons and prayers has remained virtually unchanged.
Parish churches throughout the land incorporate the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols in their Christmas celebrations, and our churches in the Lambourn Valley Benefice will have carol services at All Saints East Garston on the 13th December at 6.00pm, and at St Michael & All Angels Lambourn on the 20th December at 6.30pm.
Brian Fletcher