Unparalleled Lessons & Carols resource

In doing background research for the Lessons & Carols service at my daughter’s church, I found a unique resource: a website with a database of various Lessons & Carols services:

spreadsheets - carol service, FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Sinden.org's Carol Service Spreadsheets

• A Service for Advent with Carols from St. John's College, Cambridge, England
• A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge, England

Compiled by by Episcopal Church organist David Sinden, the website includes links to Google spreadsheets with

• Advent services from 2004-2018 (including last Sunday’s broadcast) from St. John’s College
• Christmas Eve BBC radio services from 1997-2018 (and various services from 1918-1991) from King’s College (not to be confused with the TV broadcast)

The Scripture lessons for SJC are more specific than for KCC. However, the hymns, anthems and the voluntary (postludes) appear to be complete for both. For example, the SJC Advent service always includes these four congregational carols:

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel
2. Come, thou long-expected Jesus
3. On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
4. Lo! he comes clouds descending

Similarly, in the past 20 years, KCC has always performed

• Once in Royal David’s City
• (nine lessons and various musical pieces)
• O Come All ye Faithful
• Hark! the herald-angels sing

The databases don’t seem to list the tune. Perhaps some of that is redundant: globally, “Lo! he comes” has at least three commonly used tunes,  but I’m guessing the English choirs always use Helmsley (as does their bible, the New English Hymnal). We also know that unlike this side of the Atlantic, the English never use St. Louis when they sing “O Little town of Bethlehem.”

For KCC, it does distinguish how the choir has alternated between the Ord, Ledger, Warlock and (recently) Howard versions of “Adam lay ybounden.” Overall, it provides an extremely valuable resource for anyone planning an Anglican Lessons & Carols service.