We are embarking together on one of the two great cycles of the liturgical year; Advent leads to Christmas, which leads to Epiphany. At St. Peter's, we will mark the season with a number of special services, including several versions of the service of Lessons & Carols.

The service of Christmas Lessons & Carols, which has flourished most famously at King's College, Cambridge since 1918, is popular throughout the world. The story began in 1880 in the three year old diocese of Truro, in the southwest of England. There was a local tradition of the choir going from house to house singing Christmas carols on Christmas Eve, but in 1878 this was consolidated into a 10pm service rather like an Evensong with carols. Bishop E. W. Benson and his Precentor did some research in medieval sources and modified the service into a series of nine lessons interspersed with carols. It is possible that they were inspired by the medieval office of Matins which, in its largest form, contained three Nocturns of three lessons. Each lesson was prefaced by a blessing and followed by a respond. When Bishop Benson became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1883, the idea of the service of Lessons & Carols spread.

The service was further modified by Eric Milner White, appointed Dean of King's College, Cambridge in 1918. In 1919, he compressed the series of benedictions before each lesson into a magnificent bidding prayer followed by the Lord's Prayer and benediction. The order of the lessons was altered, culminating in the Prologue of the Gospel of John. Also in 1919, 'Once in Royal David's City' was established as the opening hymn.

Throughout the twentieth century, the popularity of the Lessons & Carols service grew and expanded to include services for Advent, Epiphany and even Lent. This year at St. Peter's, I hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to attend three different forms of the service. It is the aim of the music department to enrich your life and give you peace in this busy season.

- Brian