Groton celebrates holiday season with 2024 Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols

St. John’s Chapel once again played host to Groton School’s most beloved Christmas tradition, the Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, December 13, 15, and 19.

Groton School was founded in the tradition of the Episcopal Church, and the Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols has served as a distinct expression of that heritage since it was first offered on the Circle in 1929. In fact, Groton was likely among the first communities to emulate the service from King’s College, Cambridge, England, which held its first Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols on Christmas Eve in 1918, just as World War I ended and during the deadly influenza pandemic. 

Today, the service is replicated and cherished by communities all around the world. The readings tell of God's loving purposes for humankind, and the carols offer comfort and joy for all people. A founding trustee of Groton School and friend of Endicott Peabody, the Right Reverend Phillips Brooks, wrote the text of the famous carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” which includes the line “the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” This service holds us all, and the hopes and fears of our years, again this year. 

 

The Reverend Allison Read, Groton School’s chaplain, presided at each service, which began after a prelude by the Groton School Chamber Orchestra, directed by Tim Terranella.

 

Groton’s choir, under the guidance of Choirmaster and Organist Daniel Moriarty, sang traditional hymns and carols, while honorees shared the nine religious readings—the lessons. Soloists included Peter Adovasio ’27, Anders Caspersen ’25, Newton De Silva ’27, Zeynep Erkoç ’26, Sage Greaves ’26, Alicia Leng ’28, Brenda Li ’25, Sade Pickering ’26, Hayun Shin ’27, Charlotte West ’28, Andrew Wetenhall ’28, Katrina Yang ’26, and Kayla Zheng ’26.

 

The December 13 audience was made up primarily of members from the Greater Groton community, so the guest speakers invited to read reflected those relationships: Groton Chief of Police Michael Luth, North County Land Trust Executive Director Faith Salter, FOCUS Inc. field staff member Brian Min, Lawrence Academy Acting Head of School Libby Margraf, and the Rev. Mia Kano, rector at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ayer. House Prefects Salim Hill ’25 and Jenny Polynice ’25, Chapel Prefect Matthew Scheible ’25, and Headmaster Temba T. Maqubela also gave readings.

 

The December 15 service welcomed parents and alumni. Speakers included Chapel Prefect James Ebert ’25, Senior Prefect Asante Kiio ’25, Visual Arts faculty member Kristen Donovan P’20, Megan Maturo '93, P’23, ’25, Trevor Fry ’15, Trustee Monica Spencer Green ’87, P’27, former organist and choir director Craig E. Smith P’85, ’88, ’89, Groton’s sixth headmaster, William M. Polk ’58, and Mr. Maqubela.

 

The final service of the 2024 season—for those who live and work on the Circle—was on December 19 and also broadcast via livestream. Speakers included Second Form Officer Sam Harrell ’29, Third Form Officer Jiayang Kang ’28, Fourth Form Officer Zoe Hardwick ’27, Fifth Form Officer Lebone Matthews ’26, Chapel Prefects Chloe Han ’25 and Anabelle Bernard ’25, Director of News and Publications Sean Kerrigan, Mr. Polk, and Mr. Maqubela.

 

Groton School wishes a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season to all!

 

Check out photos of this year’s Lessons & Carols at our 2024 Flickr gallery HERE.

 

For a replay of the livestream, please visit our YouTube page HERE.