The Webb School Chapel will be filled with music, song and fellowship on Thursday, Dec. 9 during the school’s annual celebration of Lessons and Carols. The performance will begin at 6:45 p.m. A reception will follow in the Grace Follin Dining Hall on The Webb School campus.
The Webb School is a coeducational, independent day/boarding school for grades 6-12 located in Bell Buckle. Not affiliated with any religion, the school upholds the Christian morals and principles upon which it was founded in 1870 by W. R. “Sawney” Webb, while embracing and respecting the variety of religious differences and backgrounds of its students.
The annual service of Lessons and Carols will include performances by The Webb School Choir and String Ensemble, as well as the traditional reading of nine Bible passages by select members of the Webb faculty and student body. The Bible passages tell the story of the fall of mankind, God’s redemptive grace and His ultimate gift of Jesus Christ. Webb’s Lessons and Carols production is based upon the 1880 service first designed by Archbishop E. W. Benson for use on Christmas Eve in the cathedral at Truro, England.
According to Webb’s longtime history teacher, L.R. Smith of Bell Buckle, it was former director of residential life, George Naron, who started the tradition at the school in the early 1980s.
“He thought it would be neat to appropriate the Church of England’s Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols to start off the Christmas season here at Webb,” Smith said.
The event is popular and annually well attended.
“The parents really love it,” Smith said. “We have parents of students long gone who still come back for the Lessons and Carols every year. They say the same thing we do … that it signifies the real beginning of the Christmas season.”
Lessons and Carols is directed and coordinated by Smith, Choir Director/Fine Arts Department Chair Janet Linton of Murfreesboro and Strings Director/Instructor Susan Mullen of Murfreesboro, and Light/Technical Director Ralph Jones.
The Webb School Chapel is located on the second floor of the main Administration Building. The school is located at 319 Webb Road East (Hwy. 82 East), Bell Buckle. For more information about The Webb School visit: www.thewebbschool.com.