Join us from your windows and balconies to sing a few Christmas carols.

Wednesday 23rd December
7pm in the Piazza
7:30 pm in Garricks’ Garden

Scroll down for carols or download.

This year we’re raising funds for Kingston’s Foodbank to help families in the area who are struggling this Christmas. To donate you can drop a few pennies into the Foodbank collection box in the concierge. If you’ve gone cashless, or are not currently living in Charter Quay, you can donate online below:

We’re hoping to hit a target of £500, which should be achievable if we all throw £2 into the pot. Please note the funding page has been set-up by John Hackett.

Carol lyrics

(1) ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY

Once in royal David’s city,
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby,
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ, her little Child.

He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall:
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

For He is our childhood’s pattern;
Day by day, like us, He grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles, like us He knew;
And He cares when we are sad,
And he shares when we are glad.

And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle,
Is our Lord in heaven above:
And He leads His children on,
To the place where He is gone.

– – – – – –

(2) DING DONG MERRILY ON HIGH

Ding dong merrily on high,
In heav'n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv'n with angel singing
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis! (x2)

E'en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And "Io, io, io!"
By priest and people sungen
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis! (x2)

Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers,
May you beautifully rhyme
Your eve'time song, ye singers
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis! (x2)

– – – – – –

(3) GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN

God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy...

In Bethlehem, in Israel
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy...

Now to the Lord sing praises
All you within this place
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace
This holy tide of Christmas
All anger should efface
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy...

– – – – – –

(4) THE FIRST NOWELL

1 The first nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

2 They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.
Nowell, nowell …

3 And by the light of that same star
three wise men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went.
Nowell, nowell…

4 Then entered in those wise men three,
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there, in his presence,
their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Nowell, nowell…

5 Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord
who hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood mankind hath bought.
Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

– – – – – –

(5) O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.

O Holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

– – – – – –

(6) O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL

O, come, all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant!
O, come ye, oh come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold him
Born the King of angels

O, come let us adore him (x3)
Christ the Lord

God of God, Light of Light
Lo, He abhors not the Virgin’s womb
Very God
Begotten, not created

O, come, let us adore him….

Sing, choirs of angels
Sing in exultation
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!
Glory to God
Glory in the highest

O, come, let us adore him….

Yea, Lord, we greet thee
Born this happy morning
Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n
Son of the Father
Now in flesh appearing

O, come, let us adore him…

– – – – – –

(7) THE HOLLY AND THE IVY

The holly and the ivy
When they are both full grown
Of all trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown

O, the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir

The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flow'r
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our dear Saviour
[Refrain]

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good
[Refrain]

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn
[Refrain]

– – – – – –

(8) WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS

We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year

Oh, bring us some figgy pudding
Oh, bring us some figgy pudding
Oh, bring us some figgy pudding
And bring it right here

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year

We won’t go until we get some
We won’t go until we get some
We won’t go until we get some
So bring it right here

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year