Celebrating 100 years of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King’s
King’s marks the 100th anniversary of its A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service with a special two-part album.
When you recall the service’s origins at the end of the First World War, it becomes not just a beautiful act of worship, but one that has a deep poignancy.
Dr Stephen Cherry, Dean of King's College
Originally devised in Truro, Cornwall, the now-renowned service was held at the College for Christmas 1918 in the wake of the First World War. It was first broadcast ten years after its inception and, except for 1930, has been broadcast every year since.
Millions around the world tune in via BBC World Service and other public broadcasters. In the UK, the BBC Radio 4 coverage begins at 3pm GMT on Christmas Eve.
To commemorate the anniversary of this iconic service King's has released a special two-part album. The album features both brand-new performances and historical recordings from the original BBC broadcast.
The Festival's history
The service was created and performed in 1880 by Edward Benson, the first and newly appointed Bishop of Truro. From 1883 until his death, Benson served as the Archbishop of Canterbury. On Christmas Eve at 10pm in 1880, the first Festival took place in a large wooden building posing as a temporary cathedral. The service was held in this building for seven years while the main Truro Cathedral was being rebuilt.
The service quickly spread around the UK and was first performed at King’s College in 1918 to celebrate the end of the First World War. Then College Dean, Eric Milner-White was an Army Chaplain in WWI. He introduced the service as a positive way of celebrating Christmas for the choir and College.
Nine biblical passages interspersed with carols and hymns tell the Christmas story. In 1919, Milner-White revised the Order of Service, replacing the first hymn with 'Once in Royal David's City' and introducing the tradition of having a treble voice sing the first verse. The format of the Festival has since remained unchanged.
An artistic and spiritual contribution
Since 1983 a new Christmas carol has been included in the service. Director of Music Stephen Cleobury introduced the series, which is now recognised as a long-standing contribution by the College to contemporary choral writing. The reception of these commissions has become a core aspect of the Festival, with millions around the world eagerly anticipating the new carol's debut. Commissioned carols from previous years have included John Rutter’s 'What Sweeter Music', as well as compositions by Jonathan Dove, Judith Bingham, John Tavener, Tansy Davies and many others.
This year, the 36th commissioned carol is composed by Judith Weir, an alumna and honorary fellow of King’s. This is Judith's second carol commissioned for the service. Her first, 'Illuminare, Jerusalem', was written for the 1985 service. For Stephen, this will be the last commission ahead of his retirement in September 2019.
"The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols has always been an outward-looking and hospitable occasion; it is a service for the people of Cambridge. We are delighted that so many people around the world are able to share this occasion via radio as well. I think of this audience not as 'listeners' but as the 'unseen congregation’ with whom we are united in an act of worship for 90 wonderful minutes. When you recall the service’s origins at the end of the First World War, it becomes not just a beautiful act of worship, but one that has a deep poignancy," said Dr Stephen Cherry, King's College's Dean.
Buy the two-part album released by King's College Choir in celebration of the anniversary.