This service finds its beginnings in Truro, England in the year 1880. Whilst the new Truro Cathedral was being built, Christmas services took place in a temporary wooden shed in place of the Cathedral. The Bishop of Truro, Edward White Benson, devised a new service – Nine Lessons with Carols – with readings from the Old and New Testament interspersed with anthems and carols. This liturgical narrative told the Christmas story through word and music. Benson also decreed that the first lesson should be read by a chorister, and each subsequent lesson progressing through the hierarchy of the Cathedral, ending with the Bishop himself.
After the end of The Great War, the Dean of King’s College, Cambridge – Eric Milner-White – took this liturgical format, first seen in Truro, and developed it for use in the College Chapel. He changed some of the carols, including adding Once in Royal David’s City as the first hymn, and he reappointed some of the lessons, including using the opening of the Gospel of John as the final lesson: “In the beginning was the word…” Ten years later in 1918, the BBC broadcast the service live to the nation, as they have every year since.
Today, much of this service and its traditions are as it would have been in that cold, wooden pro-church in Truro in the Nineteenth Century, yet much of the language in use – even then – had been used by centuries of worshippers before. It may sound old-fashioned, but its meaning is not out of date. We invite you to allow the music and words to speak to you in the beauty and peace of this place.
Please note that this service is broadcast live by RTÉ. Please ensure your phones are silenced.
You are invited to say or sing the text in bold in English.
Order of Service
Please stand as the Minister sings
Let us pray.
Please remain standing whilst the Choir and Clergy enter the stalls for the
HYMN
The choir alone sings the first two verses and the congregation joins in from Verse 3
Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable,
And his cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
All sing
And through all his wondrous childhood
He would honour and obey,
Love, and watch the lowly maiden,
In whose gentle arms he lay;
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as he.
For he is our childhood’s pattern,
Day by day like us he grew,
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us he knew;
And he feeleth for our sadness,
And he shareth in our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see him,
Through his own redeeming love,
For that child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above;
And he leads his children on
To the place where he is gone.
Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see him; but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
When like stars his children crowned
All in white shall wait around.
Music: Henry John Gauntlett (1805–76) & Arthur Henry Mann (1850–1929)
Arrangement: David Willcocks (1919–2015)
Remain standing for
THE BIDDING PRAYER
Beloved in Christ, be it this Christmastide our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the babe lying in the manger.
Therefore let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious redemption brought by this Holy Child: and let us make this cathedral church, dedicated in honour of his Holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Saint Patrick, glad with our carols of praise.
But first, let us pray for the needs of the whole world; for peace and good will over all the earth; for unity within the Church he came to build, especially in this city of Dublin.
And because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us remember at this time in his name the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed; the sick and them that mourn, the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children; all those who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.
Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us but upon another shore, and in a greater light; that multitude which no-one can number, whose hope was in the Word made Flesh, and with whom, in this Lord Jesus, we for evermore are one.
These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven, in the words which Christ himself hath taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven: hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Almighty God bless us with his grace; Christ give us the joys of everlasting life; and unto the fellowship of the citizens above may the King of angels bring us all. Amen.
Please be seated
CAROL
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day: I would my true love did so chance to see the legend of my play, to call my true love to my dance: Sing O my love, O my love, my love, my love; this have I done for my true love. Then was I born of a virgin pure, of her I took fleshly substance; thus was I knit to man’s nature, to call my true love to my dance: In a manger laid and wrapped I was, so very poor this was my chance, betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass, to call my true love to my dance: Sing O my love, O my love, my love, my love; this have I done for my true love.
Words: Traditional
Music: Carl Rütti (b.1949)
Please remain seated for
THE FIRST LESSON
Read by a Girl Chorister.
God tells sinful Adam that he has lost the life of Paradise and that his seed will bruise the serpent’s head.
And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Thanks be to God.
Genesis 3
Please remain seated
CAROL
Adam lay ybounden, bounden in a bond; four thousand winter thought he not too long. And all was for an apple, an apple that he took, as clerkes finden written in their book. Ne had the apple taken been, ne had never our Lady a been heavene queen. Blessed be the time that apple taken was: therefore we moun singen Deo Gracias!
Music: Philip Ledger (1937–2012)
Please remain seated for
The Second Lesson
Read by a Boy Chorister.
God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.
And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Thanks be to God.
Genesis 22
Please remain seated
Carol
In the bleak mid-winter frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone: Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak mid-winter, long ago. Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain; heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign: In the bleak mid-winter a stable-place sufficed the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Enough for him, whom cherubim worship night and day, a breastful of milk, and a manger full of hay; enough for him, whom angels fall down before, the ox and ass and camel which adore. What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb; if I were a wise man I would do my part; yet what I can I give him – give my heart.
Words: Christina Rossetti (1830–1894)
Music: Harold Darke (1888–1976)
Please remain seated for
The Third Lesson
Read by a Lay Vicar Choral.
The prophet foretells the birth of Christ.
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Thanks be to God.
Isaiah 9
Please stand to sing the
Hymn
Unto us is born a Son,
King of choirs supernal:
See on earth his life begun,
Of lords the Lord eternal.
The choir alone sings
Christ, from heav’n descending low,
Comes on earth a stranger:
Ox and ass their Owner know
Becradled in the manger.
This did Herod sore affray,
And grievously bewilder;
So he gave the word to slay,
And slew the little childer.
Of his love and mercy mild
This the Christmas story:
And O that Mary’s gentle child
Might lead us up to glory!
All sing
O and A and A and O
Cum cantibus in choro,
Let our merry organ go,
Benedicamus Domino.
Words & Music: Puer nobis nascitur
Arrangement: David Willcocks (1919–2015)
Please be seated for
The Fourth Lesson
Read by the Master of the Music.
The Prophet foretells the Messiah’s Kingdom of Peace.
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots: and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. With righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
Thanks be to God.
Isaiah 11
Please remain seated
Carol
A Rose e’er blooming, a lovely Rose, from tender root hath sprung. Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming, from tender root hath sprung! Of Jesse’s lineage coming as men of old have sung. Brought forth a flower bright, amid the cold of winter, And in the dark midnight. A Rose e’er blooming, a lovely Rose, whereof Isaiah told. The Rose, which I am singing, whereof Isaiah told, In Mary, purest maiden, who bears the holy child. At God’s eternal will, she bore to us a Saviour, yet stays a virgin still. O flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispel in glorious splendour the darkness everywhere; True man, yet very God, from sin and death now save us, And share our every load. A Rose e’er blooming. A Rose.
Music: 14th Century German; Arrangement: David Blackwell (b. 1961)
Text: 16th Century (vv. 1 & 2), 19th Century (v. 3)
Please remain seated for
The Fifth Lesson
Read by the Principal Teacher of the Cathedral Choir School.
The angel Gabriel visits the Blessed Virgin Mary.
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Thanks be to God.
St Luke 1
Please remain seated
Canticle
O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be? For neither before thee was any like thee, nor shall there be after. Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye at me? The thing which ye behold is a divine mystery.
My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations. He hath shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever. Glory be to the Father: and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be? For neither before thee was any like thee, nor shall there be after. Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye at me? The thing which ye behold is a divine mystery.
Words: Luke 1
Music: Herbert Howells (1892–1983) from The Saint Paul’s Service (1950)
Please remain seated for
The Sixth Lesson
Read by the Dean’s Vicar.
Saint Luke relates the birth of Jesus.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Thanks be to God.
St Luke 2
Please stand to sing
Hymn
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.
For Christ is born of Mary;
And, gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
The choir alone sings
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
All sing
O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in:
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel.
Words: Phillips Brooks (1835–1893)
Music: English Trad. arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)
Please be seated for
The Seventh Lesson
Read by a Prebendary.
The shepherds go to the manger.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Thanks be to God.
St Luke 2
Please remain seated
Carol
Going through the hills on a night all starry on the way to Bethlehem, Far away I heard a shepherd-boy piping on the way to Bethlehem. Angels in the sky brought this message nigh: ‘Dance and sing for joy that Christ the new-born King is come to bring peace on earth, And he’s lying cradled there at Bethlehem’. ‘Tell me, shepherd-boy piping tunes so merrily on the way to Bethlehem, who will hear your tunes on these hills so lonely on the way to Bethlehem?’ ‘None may hear my pipes on these hills so lonely on the way to Bethlehem; but a King will hear me play sweet lullabies when I get to Bethlehem.’ ‘Where is this new King, shepherd-boy piping merrily, is he there at Bethlehem?’ ‘I will find him soon by the star shining brightly in the sky o’er Bethlehem.’ ‘May I come with you, shepherd-boy piping merrily, come with you to Bethlehem? Pay my homage too at the new King’s cradle, is it far to Bethlehem?’
Words & Music: John Rutter (b.1945)
Please remain seated for
The Eighth Lesson
Read by a Dignitary.
The wise men are led by the star to Jesus.
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Thanks be to God.
St Matthew 2
Please remain seated
Carol
Here is the little door, lift up the latch, O lift! We need not wander more, but enter with our gift; Our gift of finest gold. Gold that was never bought or sold; Myrrh to be strewn about his bed; Incense in clouds about His head; All for the child that stirs not in His sleep, but holy slumber hold with ass and sheep. Bend low about His bed, for each He has a gift; See how His eyes awake, lift up your hands, O lift! For gold, He gives a keen-edged sword. (Defend with it thy little Lord!) For incense, smoke of battle red, myrrh for the honoured happy dead; Gifts for His children, terrible and sweet; Touched by such tiny hands, and O such tiny feet.
Words: Frances Chesterton (1869–1938)
Music: Herbert Howells (1892–1983)
Please stand for
The Ninth Lesson
Read by the Dean.
Saint John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation: how the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Thanks be to God.
St John 1
Please remain standing to sing
Hymn
O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant;
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him born, the King of angels:
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
God of God, Light of Light,
Lo! He abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Very God, begotten, not created.
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above;
Glory to God in the highest.
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born that happy morning,
Jesu, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing:
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Music: Adeste Fideles
Text Translation: Frederick Oakley (1802–80)
Arrangement: David Willcocks (1919–2015)
Please remain standing for
The Christmas Collect
Let us pray.
O God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thy only son, Jesus Christ: Grant that, as we joyfully receive him for our redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him, when he shall come to be our judge; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Blessing
Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, grant you the fullness of inward peace and goodwill, and make you partakers of the divine nature; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
Please remain standing to sing
Hymn
During the singing of the hymn a collection for charitable organisations will be taken. If you do not have any cash for the collection plate, please considering donating online by clicking here.
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
The choir alone sings
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
All sing
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
Christ by highest heaven adored!
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb.
The choir alone sings
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail, the incarnate Deity.
Pleased as Man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
All sing
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
The choir alone sings
Hail, the heaven-born Prince of peace!
Hail, the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
All sing
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
Mild, he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
Words: Charles Wesley (1707–88)
Music: George Frederick Handel (1685–1759)
Please remain standing whilst the procession leaves the Choir Stalls. Please be seated, yet remain as quiet as possible during the
Organ Voluntary
The broadcast ends following the conclusion of the organ voluntary.
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