Carols by Candlelight 2026

Join the College Choir of Merton College and the Girl Choristers for Carols by Candlelight, an evening of Christmas music in the beautiful Merton College Chapel by flickering candlelight.
At the heart of the programme is Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, one of the most distinctive and cherished choral works of the twentieth century. Written in 1942, the work sets a sequence of medieval English poems to music of extraordinary colour and imagination. From the hushed beauty of There is no rose to the exuberance of Wolcum Yole!, Britten captures both the mystery and the joy of the Christmas season.
Whether Christmas at Merton is a familiar part of your year or a new experience, we warmly invite you to join us for this special concert as the festive season approaches.

The Choir of Merton College
The Merton College Choristers
Benjamin Nicholas, conductor
Francois Cloete, organ
Dominic Detre, organ