Church preps for 135-year-old tradition

The Anglican Church of the Epiphany presents its Advent Lessons and Carols service twice later this month, an event it describes as “one of the most anticipated events of the Anglican church year.”

The service takes place at the downtown church both at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 20. Performing at the service will be a choir composed of singers from across the Sudbury-Manitoulin area.

This advent service had its inception in a service first prepared for Christmas Eve in Truro, England in 1880, which has become part of Christmas celebrations around the world.

The BBC annually broadcasts the service from King’s College, Cambridge, a tradition begun in 1928. In 1934, a service of lessons and selected carols, from medieval to contemporary, was adapted to celebrate the advent season of hope, and has become a much-loved tradition marking the preparation for Christmas.

Admission is by freewill offering. The Church of the Epiphany is fully accessible.