A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at the Anglican Church of St Paul’s Monte Carlo is an annual celebration of a Christmas message as powerful today as it was over 2,000 years ago. Told by nine passages taken from the Book of Genesis, The Book of Prophets and Holy Gospels, read by members of the St Paul’s Church but traditionally also by the most distinguished of guests, HSH Prince Albert II. 

British Ambassador to Monaco and France Dame Menna Rawlings with HSH Prince Albert Martina Brodie

The British Ambassador to France and Monaco joined the celebration together with Eric Blair, British Honorary Consul in Monaco and many other Honorary Consuls, as well as Minister of State Pierre Dartout and prestigious and respected personalities on the Monaco scene. 

St Paul’s Church Choir led by Errol Girdlestone added magic to the evening with beautiful performances, especially by the soprano Felicity Murphy, who brought tears to the eyes of those present in (Minuit Chrétien) O Holy Night

The service on Sunday followed the traditional format of Nine Lessons and Carols that has taken place in the Anglican Church every Advent since 1918. 

For Chaplain Rev Hugh Bearn this was the first in Monaco but he has experienced many in his time in England, some of them lit only by candles.

For NEWS.MC he said: 

“It was lovely to see so many people from across the Principality at St Paul’s Church this evening, the musicians worked so hard, those people that read – read with understanding and clarity, it was lovely to see children here as well and it was a great way to connect our church with The Principality during Advent and as we move towards Christmas. There were distinguished guests, there were also very ordinary people from all over the Principality and beyond who came this evening and it was a wonderful act of worship.”

FEATURED IMAGE: Mme Dartout, His Excellency Pierre Dartout, Minister of State, Rev. Hugh Bearn, Churchwarden Russell Crump, HSH Prince Albert, Churchwarden Peter Coleridge, President of the British Association of Monaco Yvonne Bernhardt, Her Excellency Dame Menna Rawlings, British Honorary Counsul in Monaco Eric Blair, and President of St. Paul’s Church Council Hope Swales. Michael Alesi, Prince’s Palace