The Guildford Cathedral Choir – Christmas Carols From Guildford Cathedral

The Guildford Cathedral Choir – Christmas Carols From Guildford Cathedral

Experience the traditional sound of an English cathedral Christmas with Christmas Carols From Guildford Cathedral, a collection of twelve much-loved carols performed by the Guildford Cathedral Choir. Rooted in the English choral tradition, this festive album brings together familiar Christmas hymns, devotional melodies and centuries-old seasonal favourites in the reverberant setting of cathedral music.

Guildford Cathedral, located in Surrey, is home to a long-established choral tradition, with its choir performing sacred music for worship, concerts and recordings. The cathedral choir's approach draws on the precision, clarity and expressive restraint associated with English church music, making this collection an appealing choice for listeners who appreciate traditional Christmas carols performed in a formal choral style.

The programme opens with "Once In Royal David's City", one of Britain's best-loved Christmas carols and a longstanding feature of Christmas services. Its gentle, reverent character sets the tone for a collection that balances familiar congregational favourites with the richness of the Anglican choral tradition.

"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" brings a darker, more ancient-sounding melody, while "While Shepherds Watched" and "See, Amid The Winter's Snow" reflect the enduring place of traditional English carols in Christmas worship. "As With Gladness Men Of Old" adds a reflective devotional quality, before "The First Nowell" offers another instantly recognisable seasonal melody.

The second side continues with "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", a grand and celebratory Christmas hymn, followed by "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear" and the serene familiarity of "Silent Night". "Good King Wenceslas" introduces the narrative charm of a traditional Christmas song, while "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" brings a quieter sense of contemplation. The programme closes with "O Come, All Ye Faithful", a fitting finale to a collection centred on the beauty and tradition of Christmas choral music.

Originally issued in 1966 on Music for Pleasure, Christmas Carols From Guildford Cathedral belongs to the era when affordable British LPs brought classical, religious and seasonal recordings into homes across the country. The album was also a chart success, reaching number 24 on the UK Albums Chart during the 1966 Christmas season.

For listeners who enjoy cathedral choirs, traditional carols, English sacred music and vintage Christmas records, this LP offers a timeless seasonal atmosphere. It is well suited to Christmas gatherings, quiet winter evenings and anyone seeking the familiar sound of traditional choral singing rather than contemporary festive pop.

A charming addition to a collection of Christmas vinyl, this album celebrates the enduring appeal of Britain's carolling heritage through a programme of twelve classic seasonal hymns.

Tracklist

Side A
A1. Once In Royal David's City
A2. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
A3. While Shepherds Watched
A4. See, Amid The Winter's Snow
A5. As With Gladness Men Of Old
A6. The First Nowell

Side B
B1. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
B2. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
B3. Silent Night
B4. Good King Wenceslas
B5. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
B6. O Come, All Ye Faithful