Prescot Parish Church was packed to the rafters on Sunday 3 December for a special performance of Christmas with The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge.
The exclusive festive concert, was led by the Choir’s Director of Music, Daniel Hyde, and the audience was treated to an exquisite repertoire, which included well-known songs and Christmas carols as well as the opportunity to join in with the Choir to sing “Once in Royal David’s City” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” The concert finished with a magical performance of “Silent Night.”
The sell-out concert was the final event as part of another year of exciting and captivating cultural events and activities across Knowsley.
Hosting the Choir in Prescot was a fitting celebration of the town’s unique bond with King’s College, Cambridge. Founded by Henry VI, the college was granted his land in Prescot, which made King’s College, Cambridge the Lord of the Manor and Rectory of Prescot. To this day, King’s College, Cambridge is responsible for appointing every new vicar of Prescot, and the town shares the College’s crest.
Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Communities commented:
“It was such a magical evening. The choir sang beautifully, the church looked very festive, and the guests enjoyed a sing-along with some traditional festive carols.
“The concert was a wonderful way to celebrate Prescot’s link to King’s College, Cambridge and to share the story of the fascinating historic connections.
“The concert has ended another fantastic year of culture for Knowsley. A year that has been filled with art, music, literature, performance, dance, sport and so much more.”
Christmas with Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
The History of Prescot and Kings College Cambridge
For centuries, Prescot and King’s College, Cambridge have enjoyed a special connection, with a unique shared history dating back to the 1440s.
King’s College, Cambridge was founded by Henry VI who subsequently granted the college his land in Prescot, along with the income from tithes and rents. As well as providing financial support to the College, the gift also officially made the College the Lord of the Manor and Rectory of Prescot. The Court Leet, an early form of local government, was set up to run the town on their behalf. King’s College, Cambridge holds the title to this day, retaining the responsibility for appointing every new vicar of Prescot, and the town shares the College’s crest.
Hundreds of years of records and correspondence between the College, the vicars of Prescot and the Court Leet have captured the story of the town. This bank of knowledge has been invaluable to historians’ research and has supported the development of the Shakespeare North Playhouse.
About the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
Founded in the fifteenth century, the Choir is one of the world’s best known with millions of people worldwide tuning in to The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols – a service that has been broadcast on Christmas Eve by the BBC almost every year since 1928. The Choir is made up of choristers aged between 9 and 13 years old and undergraduates from Cambridge. You can find out more here: www.kings.cam.ac.uk/choir.
