Kentucky Wesleyan College is inviting the community to welcome the Christmas season with its annual Festival of Lessons and Carols in early December at St. Stephen Cathedral.
The program follows the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, a Christmas liturgy rooted in the Anglican tradition. The format dates back to 1880 at Truro Cathedral in England, where Bishop E.W. Benson sought to place traditional carols within the biblical narrative of Christ’s birth. The service took on its present form in 1918 at King’s College, Cambridge, and has since become a hallmark of Advent worship around the world.
Throughout the evening, scripture readings are interwoven with hymns and carols that reflect on the passages being read.
This year’s program will feature the Kentucky Wesleyan Singers performing works by Dan Forrest, Elaine Hagenberg, Victor C. Johnson, and Ivo Antognini. Choral Director Hadley Rouse will conduct, with James Wells — director of music at St. Stephen Cathedral — serving as collaborative pianist. Percussion students Joseph Howard and Davis Brocato, along with the Shepard Brass Quintet, will also join the performance.
“The Festival of Lessons and Carols is a delightful way to usher in the Christmas season,” Rouse said. “The concert has become an Owensboro tradition with beautiful music in a sacred setting, a fitting celebration of the birth of Christ.”
The performances are set for 7 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 5 at the Cathedral, located at 610 Locust Street. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for senior adults and students with ID. They can be purchased at kwc.edu/events, by calling 270-852-3117, or at the door.
