The many, many local carols around the country are often forgotten, but they’re wonderful to sing – so for more than a decade we have been bringing some of Kent’s almost forgotten carols back to life.
They’re very different to the same few carols we hear in church or on TV each year, and that difference makes them interesting, joyful and fun to sing!
Many that we sing come from a book of Kent carols Arise and Hail the Happy Day researched and edited by George Frampton, and published by the Faversham Society (it’s number 124 on their list). However, we have identified some other sources too.
For information contact Gavin at 07985 522734 and gmatkin@gmail.com
Locally sung carols we have revived
Tune, harmony and text:
- Behold the Grace Appears
- Christians Awake
- Cranbrook (While Shepherds Watched)
- Ditchling Carol
- Eythorne (While Shepherds Watched)
- Hark! What Sounds
- Lazerus
- Lyngham (While Shepherds Watched)
- Otford Christmas Version
- Pentonville (While Shepherds Watched)
- The Seven Joys of Mary
- Shepherds Rejoice (Bolton tune)
- Sweet Chiming Bells (While Shepherds Watched)
- The Moon Shines Bright
Tune and text (where available):
- Behold the Grace Appears
- Christians Awake
- Cranbrook (While Shepherds Watched)
- Ditchling Carol
- Eythorne (While Shepherds Watched)
- Hark! What Sounds
- Lazerus
- Lyngham (While Shepherds Watched)
- Otford Christmas Version
- Pentonville (While Shepherds Watched)
- Shepherds Rejoice
- Seven Joys of Mary
- Sweet Chiming Bells (While Shepherds Watched)
- The Moon Shines Bright
Modern carol:
Sounds (YouTubes):
- Behold the Grace Appears
- Christians Awake
- Cranbrook
- Ditchling Carol
- Eythorne
- Hark! What Sounds
- Lazerus
- Lyngham
- Pentonville
- Shepherds Rejoice
- Seven Joys of Mary
- Sweet Chiming Bells
- The Pilgrim’s Way
- The Moon Shines Bright
Popular old carols that are still sung today and which we also sing
- God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen, abc God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen YouTube: God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen (now out of date) Also: Current harmonies on verses 4 and 5
- Good King Wenceslas , with descant harmonies as noted out by KW GKW descant last verse, YouTube: Good King Wenceslas
- The Holly and the Ivy
Download printable lyric sheets without music here: Carol songsheets 2019.
I’d like to thank George Frampton, Helen Mitcham, Adrian Waters, John Moore and Kathy Wallwork for their help in sourcing this material, and to Kathy for the harmonies.