Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is the Christmas Eve service held in King’s College Chapel. The Festival was introduced in 1918 to bring a more imaginative approach to worship.

During this annual community event, the audience joins in singing nine carols, some old favorites and some new. During the service, clergy and lay readers representing most of the coast faith communities share Bible readings and verses. Seating is limited and quickly fills up, so plan to arrive early.

Since 1919, King’s College tradition holds that the opening carol is always ‘Once in Royal David’s City’, and there is always a new, specially commissioned carol by the college. The first composer to be commissioned was Lennox Berkeley, and amongst those who have followed him are, Thomas Adés, Judith Bingham, James Macmillan and John Rutter, to name but a few. The BBC began broadcasting the service in the 1930s and is a tradition in communities worldwide.

Donations received at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols go to support South Coast Crisis Aid (also known as South Coast Crisis Line). These donations are the primary source of funding for SCCA. Your generosity supports emergency food, fuel, bus transportation and lodging assistance throughout the year via vouchers distributed by local clergy and by Action Network in Gualala and Point Arena.

Please make your checks out to Shepherd by the Sea, with “South Coast Crisis Aid” in the memo line. Your generosity supports emergency food, fuel, bus transportation and lodging assistance throughout the year via vouchers distributed by local clergy and by Action Network in Gualala and Point Arena. Please make your checks out to Shepherd by the Sea, with “South Coast Crisis Aid” in the memo line. Thank you!

Seating at the Gualala Arts Center is limited and traditionally fills up. You are encouraged to plan ahead, arrive early and bring a flashlight for your safe walking to and from parking areas around the Arts Center.