A Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols from Barbados, with radiant choral music, timeless readings and organ favourites for Christmas Day. Recorded at St Cyprian’s and St Barnabas Anglican Churches between 2022 and 2025, The Myriad Singers of Barbados are directed by Jerome Clarke, with Artistic Director and organist John Bryan and a prelude for organ and flute from Nathan Richards (flute).
Following the tradition set by King's College, Cambridge in 1918, the Myriad Singers present familiar carols and anthems by John Rutter, David Willcocks, Bob Chilcott and others frame the great scripture readings of Christmas, from the Garden of Eden and the prophecies of Isaiah to St Luke’s Nativity, the visit of the shepherds and wise men, and St John’s great Prologue. This Christmas special is for anyone who loves traditional Anglican carol services, rich choral sound and a solemn Barbadian celebration of the birth of Christ.
You can follow along with the service below:
Prelude: Organ & Flute – A Christmas Pastorale (C. Callahan)
Hymn - Once in Royal David's City (J. O’Donnell)
The Bidding Prayer
Sussex Carol (D. Willcocks)
God announces in the Garden of Eden that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpent's head. Genesis 3: 1 - 15
Sans Day Carol (J. Rutter)
Ding dong! merrily on high (T. Arbeau)
Christ’s birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah. Isaiah 9: 2, 6 - 7
Away in a manger (B. Chilcott)
The First Nowell (P. Ledger)
The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary Luke 1: 26 – 38
Gabriel’s Message (D. Ratcliffe)
A maiden most gentle (A. Carter)
St. Luke tells of the birth of Jesus Luke 2: 1 - 7
Nativity Carol (J. Rutter)
Hymn - O little town of Bethlehem (S. Cleobury)
The shepherds go to the manger Luke 2: 8 - 20
Infant holy, infant lowly (D. Willcocks)
Shepherd’s pipe carol (J. Rutter)
The wise men are led by the star to Jesus Matthew 2: 1 - 11
Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child (K. Leighton)
We three kings (M. Neary)
St. John unfolds the mystery of the Incarnation John 1: 1 – 14
Hymn - O Come, All ye Faithful (D. Willcocks)
Closing Prayers & Blessing
Hymn – Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (D. Willcocks)
Organ ~ Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her, BWV 606 (J.S. Bach)
Artistic Director & Organ – John Bryan
Conductor – Jerome Clarke
Priest – The Reverend Dr. Marcus Lashley
Prelude (Flute – Nathan Richards)
Readers: Kumar Whitehead, Chantal Yearwood, Shelley-Ann Husbands, Shanika Roach, Antoinette Arthur & Patrick Alleyne
Introduced by Julius Gittens
Choir recordings from live performances in St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church (2022/3) & St. Barnabas Anglican Church (2024/5).