The world’s focus falls on Cambridge at Christmas
Christmas Eve at King’s College Chapel means time for the most famous of all Cambridge’s carol services, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, which is being held for the 100th time this year.
Broadcast live on Radio 4 at 3pm – BBC TV viewers are able to watch Carols from King’s at 5.45pm the same day (a separate service recorded earlier this month) – and on hundreds of other radio stations to millions around the globe, the event has run since 1918 when it was introduced to bring a more imaginative approach to worship.
There is a new system in place that sees an end to the all-day queueing of previous years. From 7.30am on Christmas Eve go to the college with some form of photographic identification. You will be issued with a ticket for a specific seat and invited to go back after 1.30pm, for the 3pm service. Only one ticket per person, with around 500 available. There is a retiring collection.
But once you’re in you’ll be treated to soaring carols performed by some of the finest choristers in the country, as well as the majesty of one of Cambridge’s most breathtaking buildings.
www.kings.cam.ac.uk
