Historical November–December 2010 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
On December 12, 2010, Grace United Methodist Church (at Skinker and Waterman) will present A Service of Nine Lessons and Carols for the 90th consecutive year.
The service consists of nine readings that tell the story of the fall of humanity, the promise of a Messiah and the birth of Jesus interspersed by carols and hymns.
The service starts at 4:15 pm at the church and is free.
The service of Lessons and Carols has an interesting history.
The format was originally drawn up by Edward White Benson, the Bishop of Truro, in Cornwall, England, who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury.
He first used the service on December 24, 1880. Tradition says that he organized a 10 pm service on Christmas Eve and that a key purpose of the service was to keep men out of pubs on Christmas Eve.[ The original liturgy has since been adapted and used by other churches all over the world.
The best-known version is broadcast annually from King’s College, Cambridge, on Christmas Eve.
It features carols sung by the famous Choir of King’s College, Cambridge and is broadcast on American Public Radio.
The first Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King’s College, Cambridge, was held on Christmas Eve in 1918.
It was conceived by Eric Milner-White, the Dean of the College, who believed that the church needed more imaginative worship.
The service was first broadcast on the radio in 1928 and, except for 1930, has been broadcast every year since, even throughout World War II, despite the fact that the stained glass had been removed from the Chapel and there was no heat.
The tradition of celebrating the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols was begun at Grace in the year 1920, two years after the beautiful service originated at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England.
The Service used at Grace each year is exactly the same as the original service of 1918.
The Grace Chancel Choir, Chancel Bell Choir, children and youth choirs and other musicians will offer musical responses to the nine lessons.
Also featured will be the beautiful Möller pipe organ. Installed in 1952 and renovated and expanded in 2000, the organ contains 3,547 pipes ranging in size from over 35 feet to treble pipes with a length of only 3/8 of an inch.
The unique architecture of Grace’s sanctuary and the beautiful music of Lessons and Carols make this service a peaceful and spiritual preparation for the Christmas season. For more information, please call Grace United Methodist Church at 314-863-1992.
Original photograph caption
Grace United Methodist Church Lessons and Carols. Descriptive caption supplied; photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 2010.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Printed 90 thconsecutiveyear from 1920 to 2010 inclusive is source phrasing, not independently counted; stray bracket after Christmas Eve retained.
Original source: SD_Times2010_11.pdf, printed page(s) 1; PDF page(s) 1.
