Every year Susy Radio likes to offer the opportunity for a church, a choir or a school to be part of Christmas Day.

This year, the traditional service of “Nine Lessons and Carols” was recorded at the most complete Saxon Church in England. St. Nicholas, Worth on the 17th December.

The format of this service originated in Truro Cathedral, Cornwall in 1880. In the early 20th Century, Kings College Cambridge started singing a slightly modified version, which was then then included in radio and television broadcasts.

In honour of the this ancient church built around 985AD and paying tribute to the history of the service, the music selected includes a traditional Cornish carol “The Holly bears a Berry” and the traditional Sussex carol “On Christmas Night”.

The choir was led by the Musical Director and Organist Mark Harrison and the service is led by the Rector, Father Michael Boag.

The choir featured the following:

Sopranos:
• Helen Cheales
• Dawn Clubb
• Melanie Edwards (soloist for “The Sussex Carol”)
• Jenny Gordon
Altos:
• Eliza Hawley (soloist for “Once In Royal David’s City”)
• Adela Hawley
• Lucy Laing
Tenors:
• Peter Harrison
• Pippy Harrison
• Peter Murgatroyd
Basses:
• Ross Hawley
• David Moore

The readers were, in order:

1. David Moore
2. Joan Tick
3. Peter Harrison
4. Linda Eells
5. Ann Lane
6. David Clubb
7. Carol Murgatroyd
8. Kay Molloy
9. Fr. Michael Boag

Susy Radio would like to thank all of the Clergy, choir, parishioners and visitors at St Nicholas Worth for the very warm welcome extended to us during our recording of this wonderful service. I also know that the choir would love to welcome new voices to join them. Do get in touch.

Recorded, edited and presented by Neil Munday
With thanks to Programme Director Geoff Rogers

The programme was broadcast at 1pm on Christmas Day and you can listen again here: