Nine Lessons and Carols

Nine Lessons and Carols
church choir singing by candlelight
A service of Nine Lessons in 2010 at St. George's School, Rhode Island, US
GenreReligious service/Anglican church music
VenueChristian churches worldwide, notably King's College Chapel, Cambridge
Inaugurated24 December 1880 (1880-12-24)
FounderEdward White Benson

Nine Lessons and Carols, also known as the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols and Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, is a service of Christian worship traditionally celebrated on or near Christmas Eve in England. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings or lessons from Genesis, the prophetic books and the Gospels, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols, hymns and choir anthems.