A Ceremony of Lessons and Carols
On Sunday, December 19th, the Christmas Choir will lead in worship by presenting A Ceremony
of Lessons and Carols: A Simple Service for Choir and Congregation composed by and arranged
by Anna Laura Page and Jean Anne Schafferman. Others involved in the service are organist
Mary Ellen Kerrick, pianist Lusia Glagoleva, and, you, the people of Parkway Baptist Church
joining with the Christmas Choir in singing familiar Christmas carols.
This service follows the traditional Lessons and Carols format begun in 1880 in England. Here is
a brief description of how and where this seasonal service originated.
Lessons and Carols had its origin at Truro Cathedral (England) on Christmas Eve 1880,
when a service of scripture and supporting carols was developed by the Bishop of Truro,
F.W. Benson. Some 38 years later in 1918, this format was adapted for Christmas Eve at
King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, England. The BBC broadcast from King’s College
helped to popularize the Service of Lessons and Carols, and it was quickly duplicated by
cathedrals and small churches throughout the world. The heart of the service continues
to this day – that is, the retelling of the Christian’s story of faith from the fall of Adam to
the coming of the Word Incarnate (from A Service of Lessons and Carols, Introduction,
published by Alfred Music Company, 1997).
BBC Radio still live broadcasts this annual concert from King’s College Chapel. The program is
typically simulcast by American Public Media and its affiliates at 10AM Eastern Standard Time
on December 24. For more information about this year’s broadcast go to
https://www.apmdistribution.org/apm-presents/2021/classical-holidays/a-festival-of-nine-
lessons-and-carols/.
This service, and Parkway Baptist’s 5 p.m. Christmas Eve Service, are both excellent
opportunities to invite friends and neighbors to experience the community of Parkway Baptist
Church.
Carey