Holiday season brings Lessons & Carols

To kick off the holiday season, Darlington School will host its 28th annual Festival of Lessons & Carols on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. in Morris Chapel.

“Lessons and Carols has become a wonderful tradition at Darlington that involves students of all ages,” said Sam Moss ('63), dean of college guidance. “The service is built around nine biblical lessons. Between the readings, a series of carols and anthems is presented.”

This service actually originated more than 125 years ago in the English city of Truro. In 1918, King’s College, Cambridge University, adopted the service, and the following year, they began the tradition of opening with the hymn “Once in a Royal David’s City.” Credit for the world-fame of the Lessons and Carols service belongs to the BBC, which began broadcasting the King’s College service worldwide in 1928.

Sponsored by the Darlington “Y” Cabinet, this year’s service will feature the 5th and 6th Grade Singers, the Concert Choir, and the String Orchestra. Musical highlights include “Once in Royal David's City," "Veni Veni (O Come, O Come Emmanuel),” “We Three Kings” and a compilation of “Ding Dong Merrily on High,” to name a few. Over 100 students are participating.

At the conclusion of the service, it has become tradition for the congregation to proceed outside for the Lighting of the Great Tree and caroling. This ceremony honors the lives of the late Dr. and Mrs. E.L. Wright, who began this tree-lighting tradition and who served Darlington for over 40 years. Dr. Wright was Darlington’s headmaster from 1920 until 1954, and president from 1954 to 1963.

If you are unable to attend this event in person, you are in luck! For the second consecutive year, Darlington School will stream its annual Lessons and Carols service live on the web. Simply visit www.darlingtonschool.org/carols and click the “Watch Lessons & Carols Live” link to enjoy it in real time. If you are unable to watch live because of a previous engagement, that’s OK, too. We will also post the full video along with event photos in a gallery on Darlington’s website.

Other upcoming holiday events include the Middle School Chorus, Band and Orchestra Concert on Dec. 5 and the Lower School Christmas Musical on Dec. 14. Visit the School Calendar for times and locations. Admission to all events is free.