Patrick Comerford
We have come to the last day of Advent, and today is Christmas Eve. At noon each day throughout Advent this year, I have been offering an image or two as part of my own ‘Advent Calendar’ for 2025, and an Advent or Christmas carol, hymn or song.
My images for my Advent Calendar at noon today, Christmas Eve, are of a Nativity image on the south wall in Saint Laurence’s Church, Winslow, Buckinghamshire, and of the Nativity scenes on the triptych in the Lady Chapel in Lichfield Cathedral.
The carved wooden reredos in the Lady Chapel in Lichfield Cathedral dates from 1895. The triptych or three-part altarpiece with high relief scenes was carved by Oskar Zwink in Oberammergau, the Bavarian town that is better known for its Passion Play. The carvings were designed in England by the Tractarian artist Charles Eamer Kempe (1837-1907), best known for his stained-glass windows, some of which can also be seen in the cathedral. The Church Historian, Owen Chadwick, says Kempe’s work represents ‘the Victorian zenith’ of church decoration and stained glass windows.
My choice of a carol or hymn today, on Christmas Eve, is ‘O Holy Night’, a song about the night of the birth of ‘the dear Saviour’ and frequently sung on Christmas Evel. It is based on the French poem Minuit, chrétiens, written in 1847 by Placide Cappeau and set to music by composer Adolphe Adam.
Cappeau’s poem reflects his socialist and abolitionist views. The most popular English version was translated in 1855 by an American music critic and Unitarian minister, the Revd John Sullivan Dwight (1813-1893), in 1855, with some small changes to the initial melody.
For many years, the song was excluded from Catholic hymnals while critics derided Cappeau as a socialist and a drunk, and spread rumours that he was Jewish.
In the version I am sharing today, the choir of King’s College, Cambridge, sings John Rutter’s arrangement of ‘O Holy Night’.
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night divine! O night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from the orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness no stranger.
Behold your King, before him lowly bend!
Behold your King, your King, before him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and his gospel is peace.
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother;
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise his holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!
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