Lessons and carols

This past Sunday, December 22nd, we had our Lessons and Carols service.  It is always a moving service filled the Scripture and some of our favorite hymns!  The very first Lessons and Carols service dates back to December 24, 1880, and it was held at Truro Cathedral in the United Kingdom.

Christmas Carols has only recently started to be sung in churches; before that, they were only sung at homes.  In 1916, Brown University held its first service of Lessons and Carols, and has continued this tradition every since.  However, the popularity of this service really started in 1918, when it was held at King's College in Cambridge.  The new dean had served as a military chaplain and was concerned that the Great War (World War 1) had hardened  the peoples' hearts against religion.  He decided that this service would be a way of bringing Christmas back to the church.  It was very successful!  Then the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) began broadcasting the service on the radio in 1928, and followed by airing it on television in 1954.  Now, it is traditionally pre-recorded in early or mid-December , then broadcast on Christmas Eve.  If you haven't seen it, take a couple of hours this Christmas season and check it out online!

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