Advent Lessons and Carols

The Festival of Advent Lessons and Carols originated at Truro Cathedral in 1880. Conceived by Bishop E.W. Benson, the service included readings and carols for Christmas, and was offered as a prelude to the Christmas Eve service. It was adapted in 1918 by Dean Eric Milner-White for use at King's College, Cambridge. Milner-White had served as a chaplain during WWI, and feared that the scale of tragedy and destruction during that war had shaken the faith of his countrymen. The service was an instant success. It continues to be held at King's College each Christmas Eve and has been adapted by  countless other churches around the world. In 1928, the BBC began broadcasting the service at King's College live on the radio, and, except for 1930, it has been broadcast every year since.

St. Luke's will be celebrating Advent Lessons and Carols as part of the Evening Prayer service. Nine readings from Scripture will tell the story of our relationship with God, from mankind's first struggle with sin to the promise of hope told through the prophets, and finally to the news that Mary would conceive Jesus Christ, God's incarnate promise of hope and restoration. We will sing carols together celebrating the joy of this promise. 

In the preface to the first service of Advent Lessons and Carols at King's College, Milner-White wrote: "In the old English liturgies, the Advent Offices made a preparation for the coming of our Lord to this earth far more vivid and eager than those of our present Prayer Book. So an Advent Carol Service, if without precedent, is not without suitability, if it helps to express 'the desire of all nations and ages.'" The purpose of this service is "not to celebrate Christmas, but to expect it."