The origins of an Advent service of lessons and carols though frequently attributed to King’s College in Cambridge, actually reaches back to the late 19th century to Truro Cathedral in Cornwall. Up until then singing carols was normally regarded as a secular activity performed by singers going from home to home. Carols had been excluded from worship until the rise of hymnody in the Victorian era.

Between 1875 and 1880 several noteworthy collections of Christmas carols were published for use in worship. In 1880, the Right Rev. Edward White Benson, the Bishop of Truro introduced a formal service of “Nine Lessons and Carols” on Christmas Eve. Benson was concerned about excessive consumption in Cornish pubs during the festive season. He created the service in an attempt to attract people away from the pubs. The service was held at 10:00 pm. on Christmas Eve and over 400 people attended.

The original liturgy has since be adapted and adopted by a variety of Christian denominations. The service rehearses the totality of the redemptive story by beginning with the Fall in the Garden and resolving with passages about Christ second coming in the Revelation of John.