Tolkien, World War I, & Christmas in England, 1918

with a lecture I gave just before Christmas 2018

Apologies that I have not been that creative lately.  In the midst of preparing for Christmas and taking care of sudden and inconvenient necessities, I have had little idea of what to write, particularly when it comes to doing my part to remember Advent and Christmas.

But my thoughts have gone back to World War One and its aftermath.  Listening to past recordings of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College Cambridge often does that for me as the first one in 1918 was prompted by the end of the Great War.  The famous clause from the Bidding Prayer particularly so:

Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore and in a greater light. . .

Everyone in that first service knew that the clause referred chiefly to war dead across the Channel.  One can imagine the emotions of those who lost friends and family in the Great War, and almost all British did.  I myself get a bit emotional when I hear the prayer on Christmas Eve.  Visiting England in part to observe the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI in 2018 has not lessened that.

I gave a brief lecture on World War One and the creation of the King’s College Nine Lessons and Carols service, as well as on J. R. Tolkien’s experience of the Great War, a few days after returning from England that year.  Free free to watch it.

By the way, this year’s Nine Lessons service to my knowledge is still scheduled before a congregation at King’s College, albeit a limited and ticketed one, at 3pm British Time Christmas Eve.  Last year, it was not even live but prerecorded due to COVID restrictions.  But this year, d. v., it will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 4, and as always I will be listening . . . and getting watery eyes from allergies.

Have a Happy Christmas.