Advent 2024: Wed 11 Dec
What is a traditional carol service?
We might assume we understand what a “traditional” Carol Service is. Much of what has been handed down to us is based on the Nine Lessons and Carols Service from King’s College Chapel, first heard in 1918. It originated from Truro in 1880, described by the son of the originator as “a little service for Christmas Eve – nine carols and nine tiny lessons, which were read by various officers of the Church, beginning with a chorister, and ending, through the different grades, with the Bishop”. It was a success that spread quickly around the country. The King’s tradition is little more than a hundred years old. I wonder what sort of Christmas services the Dickensian and Victorian people depicted in our “traditional” Christmas cards attended.
How important are the lessons (readings) to you?
Are secular readings appropriate in a carol service?
Do you see the service as Lessons with Carols, or Carols with Lessons?
What’s the most appropriate day to hold a Carol Service?
There are other forms of carol service that take place around the country. They are more “traditional” than the King’s Chapel model as they were established many generations ago. One is Plygain, a service that takes place very early (before dawn) on Christmas morning in Welsh-speaking churches. The darkness would have called for candlelight and people coming together (it’d be dark) in procession to the church.
A Plygain carol covers not only Christ’s birth but also his death and resurrection. It would normally be sung to tunes in a minor (dorian) key.
Ar fore dydd Nadolig
Esgorodd y Forwynig
Ar Geidwad bendigedig;
Ym Methlem dref y ganwyd ef
Y rhoes ei lef drosom ni.
O Geidwad aned,
Fe wawriodd arnom ddydd.
Dros euog ddyn fe’i lladdwyd
Ac mewn bedd gwag fe’i dodwyd
Ar ôl y gair ‘Gorffennwyd’;
Ond daeth yn rhydd y trydydd dydd
O’r beddrod prudd drosom ni.
O Geidwad aned,
Fe wawriodd arnom ddydd.
O rasol Fair Forwynig,
Mam Ceidwad bendigedig,
Yr Iesu dyrchafedig.
Ger gorsedd nef eiriola’n gref,
A chwyd dy lef drosom ni.
O Geidwad aned,
Fe wawriodd arnom ddydd.
On the morning of Christmas day
the Virgin gave birth
to a blessed Saviour;
In Bethlem a town where he was born
He gave his voice for us.
O Saviour born,
Day dawned on us.
For a guilty man he was killed
And in an empty grave he was laid
After the word 'It is finished';
But he came free on the third day
From the sooty tomb for us.
O Saviour born,
Day dawned on us.
O gracious Virgin Mary,
Blessed Guardian Mother,
The exalted Jesus.
Near the throne of heaven intercede strongly,
And raise your voice for us.
O Saviour born,
Day dawned on us.
The carol resembles earlier forms in which the story spans Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and glorification. In the third verse Mary is called to pray on our behalf, a notion that falls outside Protestant teaching.
Paul