This Sunday we continue our Twelve Days of Christmas celebration with a service of Lessons & Carols. On Sunday December 30, 2012 at 11:00am we will celebrate this beautiful festival service.

The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols was first planned by Bishop Benson of Truro (later Archbishop of Canterbury) in 1880. The service consists of nine Bible readings tracing the history of redemption from the fall of mankind through the nativity of Jesus Christ. Following each reading a related carol is sung by congregation or choir. In the early part of the 20th century, the service was introduced at King’s College in Cambridge. The readings are read by members of the choir, the college, the community and the clergy. Since 1928 it has been broadcast annually, except in 1930, over the BBC and today is heard and seen by millions around the world. 

The choir of King’s College consists of boy trebles, and adult men who sing Alto (Counter-tenor), Tenor and Bass. At King’s College the opening hymn of the service always is “Once in Royal David’s City”. The first stanza is sung unaccompanied by a boy treble from the rear of the chapel. The boy trebles are all prepared, because it is only when the “on-air” light comes on that the director points to the boy he has selected to sing the first stanza.

Join us for a beautiful service of music and the Biblical narrative.

Christmas Altar 2012