Nine Lessons and Carols facts for kids
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a special church service. It is often held at Christmas time. This service is popular in the Anglican Church. It is also used by other churches around the world.
During the service, there are nine readings, called "lessons." These lessons tell the story of Christmas. The story starts from the beginning of the Bible. It includes the story of Adam and ends with the birth of Jesus. Between each reading, a carol is sung. Sometimes the choir sings alone. Other times, everyone in the church sings together.
The idea for this service began in 1880. Edward White Benson, who was a Bishop in Truro, Cornwall, started it. He created the service for Christmas Eve (December 24). Now, many churches use this service. This includes some Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches. In the UK, it is a common way for schools to celebrate Christmas.
The most famous Nine Lessons and Carols service happens at King's College, Cambridge. The college's famous Choir sings the carols. The BBC has broadcast this service for over 50 years.
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The King's College Christmas Service
The first Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge, was on Christmas Eve in 1918. Arthur Henry Mann led the music. He was the organist there from 1876 to 1929. The choir had 16 young boy singers, called trebles. This was the number that King Henry VI wanted when he started the college.
Until 1927, the men in the choir were choral scholars and lay clerks. Today, 14 university students from the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, sing the men's parts.
How the Service is Broadcast
The British Broadcasting Corporation first broadcast the service in 1928. It has been broadcast every year since, except for 1930. The service was even broadcast during World War II. This was true even though the stained glass windows were removed from the Chapel. Also, there was no heating.
Today, the service is a little different. Not all the readings are from the Bible. Most of the carols are sung by the choir. There are usually more than nine carols.
Special Moments in the Service
The service always begins with the famous carol "Once in Royal David's City." The first verse is always sung by one of the boys in the choir. He sings it alone, without any music. The boy chosen to sing this solo is not told until just before the service starts.
Since 1982, Stephen Cleobury has been the Director of Music. Each year, he asks a composer to write a new carol for the Choir. The service ends with the carol "O Come all ye faithful." After this, the organist plays two pieces. One is "In Dulci Jubilo" by Johann Sebastian Bach. The other is heard on the radio, but not on television.
Images for kids
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Edward White Benson, who started the service of Nine Lessons and Carols in 1880.
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The first Order of Service for Nine Lessons and Carols from 1880. It is on display in Truro Cathedral.
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King's College Chapel, Cambridge (left). The popular Nine Lessons and Carols service is broadcast from here every Christmas Eve.
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The carol "The Lamb" is based on William Blake's poem. This image shows a page from Blake's book, Songs of Innocence and of Experience.
