The original service of Nine Lessons and Carols was drawn up by E. W. Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury, for use in the wooden shed which then served as
his cathedral in Truro, at 10:00pm on Christmas Eve 1880. A. C. Benson recalled,
Almost immediately, other churches adapted the service for their own use; All Saints first held a service of Nine Lessons and Carols during the ministry of Canon
Trevor Lewis who had come to All Saints from Truro. A wider fame began to grow when the service was first broadcast from King's College, Cambridge in 1928. With
the exception of 1930 it has been broadcast from there annually, even during the Second World War when the ancient glass had been removed from the Chapel and the
name of King's could not be broadcast for security reasons.
Wherever the service is heard and however it is adapted, whether the music is provided by the choir or congregation, the pattern and strength of the service derives
from the lessons and not the music. The centre of the service is still found by those who “go in heart and mind” and who consent to follow where the story leads.
We ask that in return for this wonderful musical offering you give as generously as you are able in the collection. If you are a UK tax-payer, please use the Gift Aid
envelope provided so that we can maximise on your generosity.
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