The format was based on an Order drawn up by E.W. Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury, for Christmas Eve 1880 in Truro. It has since been adapted and used by other churches all over the world. In the UK, the service has become the standard format for schools' Christmas carol services.
The most famous version is broadcast annually from King's College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve featuring carols by the famous Choir.
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King's College, Cambridge
The first Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in King's College, Cambridge was conceived by Eric Milner-White and held on Christmas Eve in 1918. The format did not differ substantially from the one known today. The service was first broadcast on the British Broadcasting Corporation in 1928, and since the early 1930s has been broadcast live to many parts of the world on the BBC Overseas Service, as well as domestically on the Radio 4. It is estimated that each year there are millions of listeners worldwide. There is also a television broadcast in the UK (on BBC channels Two and Four), although that is pre-recorded in early or mid-December.
The service traditionally begins with the hymn Once in Royal David's City, with the first verse sung unaccompanied by a solo boy chorister, and ends with the hymn Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. The lessons are read by representatives of the college and of the City of Cambridge. The singing is divided into "carols", which are sung by the choir, and "hymns", sung by choir and congregation. Since 1982 the current Director of Music, Stephen Cleobury, has commissioned a new carol on behalf of the College for the Choir.
Order of Service
The Order of Service at King's College is always the same—the only thing that changes are which carols the choir sings, although some music is repeated from year to year. The following is from the service in 2005.
- Organ Prelude
Processional Hymn: Once in Royal David's City
Bidding Prayer
Carol: "What sweeter music" John Rutter
First Lesson from Genesis 3
Carol: Remember, O thou man Thomas Ravenscroft
Carol: Adam lay ybounden Boris Ord
Second Lesson from Genesis 22
Anthem: God so loved the world John Stainer
Carol: In dulci jubilo arr. Robert Lucas de Pearsall
Third Lesson from Isaiah 9
Carol: Sussex Carol arr. Phillip Ledger
Hymn: Unto us is born a son
Fourth Lesson from Isaiah 11
Carol: A tender shoot Otto Goldschmidt
Carol: A spotless rose Herbert Howells
Fifth Lesson from Luke 1
Carol: Edi beo thu, Heuene Quene 13th century traditional
Carol: Benedicamus Domino Peter Warlock
Sixth Lesson from Luke 2
Carol: Sweet was the song the Virgin sang Richard Blackford
Carol: Tomorrow shall be my dancing day John Gardner
Seventh Lesson from Luke 2
Carol: Away in a manger John Tavener
Hymn: While shepherds watched their flocks by night
Eighth Lesson from Matthew 2
Carol: Riu, riu, Chiu Mateo Fletcher the elder
Carol: Be merry Stephen Cleobury
Ninth Lesson from John 1
Chorale: Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her Johann Sebastian Bach
Hymn: O Come, All Ye Faithful
Collect & Blessing
Hymn: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Organ Postlude