Please join us on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 5 pm for the traditional
Christmas presentation of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. This is a
wonderful celebration of song and spoken word presented by the choir and members
of the church. The event is open to the public and everyone is welcome to
attend.
The festival dates back to 1880, originated by E.W. Benson, Rector at Truro
and later the Archbishop of Canterbury. Benson’s son, A.C. Benson wrote "My
father arranged from ancient sources a little service for Christmas Eve – nine
carols and nine tiny lessons, which were read by various officers of the Church,
beginning with a chorister, and ending, through the different grades, with the
Bishop." The service was highly successful and quickly adopted by other churches
in England and now across the globe.
Today, the service is most identified with the venerable King’s College* in
England and their performance on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. The college
choir has presented the program every year since 1928 (with the exception of
1930). Over the years many recordings have been made of this glorious music.
In the early part of the twentieth century, the Dean of King’s College, Eric
Milner-White described the festival in this manner: "The main theme is the
development of the loving purposes of God…" seen "through the windows and words
of the Bible". It is truly a fitting celebration of the blessings of the
Christmas season.
The performance will be followed by a reception. Donations of non-perishable
food items are welcome in support of St. George’s mission to help those in need.
The Reverend Gordon W. Hines, Rector
St. George’s Anglican Church
*founded by Henry VI in 1446 and one of the oldest and most prestigious
colleges of England’s Cambridge University.
Click on any thumbnail for photos of
earlier Nine Lessons and Carols
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