Merton Abbey Mills Christmas Lights Switch-on

18:30, Thu, 27 Nov 2025

  • Event Details
  •  
  • Type of event: Performance
    Start time: 18:30
    End time: 20:00
    Venue: Merton Abbey Mills Band Stand
    Description: Merton Abbey Mills Christmas Lights Switch-on
    We will again be kicking off the Christmas season at the Mills. We'll be doing two half hour sets, at 6:30 and 7:15. The words for the carols everyone is singing are below. Fancy joining the Chorus as it approaches its 20th birthday? We rehearse on Monday evenings at MertonVision, Colliers Wood. Fancy playing with the Colliers Wood Community Orchestra? Tuesdays at MertonVision.

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    Carol contents:
    1. The First Nowell
    2. Once in Royal David's City
    3. Good King Wenceslas
    4. We Three Kings
    5. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
    6. Away In A Manger
    7. Silent Night
    8. While Shepherds Watched
    9. As With Gladness
    10. O Come, All Ye Faithful
    11. Jingle Bells
    12. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

    1 The First Nowell
    (back to contents)

    1. The first Nowell the angel did say
    Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
    In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep,
    On a cold winter's night that was so deep:

    Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
    Born is the King of Israel. 

    2. They looked up and saw a star,
    Shining in the east, beyond them far:
    And to the earth it gave great light,
    And so it continued both day and night: 

    Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
    Born is the King of Israel.

    3. And by the light of that same star,
    Three Wise Men came from country far;
    To seek for a King was their intent,
    And to follow the star wheresoever it went: 

    Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
    Born is the King of Israel. 

    4. This star drew nigh to the north-west;
    O'er Bethlehem it took its rest;
    And there it did both stop and stay
    Right over the place where Jesus lay:

    Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
    Born is the King of Israel.

    2 Once In Royal David's City
    (back to contents)

    1. Once in royal David's city
    Stood a lowly cattle shed,
    Where a mother laid her baby
    In a manger for his bed:
    Mary was that Mother mild,
    Jesus Christ her little Child.

    2. He came down to earth from heaven
    Who is God and Lord of all,
    And his shelter was a stable,
    And his cradle was a stall:
    With the poor and mean and lowly,
    Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

    3. And through all His wondrous childhood
    He would honour and obey,
    Love and watch the lowly maiden,
    In whose gentle arms He lay:
    Christian children all must be
    Mild, obedient, good as He.

    3 Good King Wenceslas
    (back to contents)

    Good King Wenceslas looked out,
    on the Feast of Stephen,
    When the snow lay round about,
    deep and crisp and even;
    Brightly shone the moon that night,
    tho' the frost was cruel,
    When a poor man came in sight,
    gath'ring winter fuel.

    Kings:
    "Hither, page, and stand by me,
    if thou know'st it, telling,
    Yonder peasant, who is he?
    Where and what his dwelling?"

    Pages: 
    "Sire, he lives a good league hence,
    underneath the mountain;
    Right against the forest fence,
    by Saint Agnes' fountain." 

    Kings:
    "Bring me flesh, and bring me wine,
    bring me pine logs hither:
    Thou and I shall see him dine,
    when we bear them thither."

    All:
    Page and monarch, forth they went,
    forth they went together;
    Through the rude wind's wild lament
    and the bitter weather. 

    Pages:
    "Sire, the night is darker now,
    and the wind blows stronger;
    Fails my heart, I know not how;
    I can go no longer."

    Kings:
    "Mark my footsteps, 
    good my page;
    Tread thou in them boldly:
    Thou shalt find the winter's rage
    Freeze thy blood less coldly." 

    All:
    In his master's steps he trod,
    where the snow lay dinted;
    Heat was in the very sod
    which the saint had printed.
    Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
    wealth or rank possessing,
    Ye who now will bless the poor,
    shall yourselves find blessing. 

    4 We Three Kings
    (back to contents)

    1. We three kings of Orient are
    Bearing gifts we traverse afar
    Field and fountain, moor and mountain
    Following yonder star

    Oh, star of wonder, star of night
    Star with royal beauty bright
    Westward leading, still proceeding
    Guide us to thy perfect light

    2. Born a king on Bethlehem's plain
    Gold I bring to crown Him again
    King forever, ceasing never
    Over us all to reign

    Oh, star of wonder, star of night
    Star with royal beauty bright
    Westward leading, still proceeding
    Guide us to thy perfect light

    3. Frankincense to offer have I                                                                                Incense owns a Deity nigh:
    Prayer and praising
    All men raising,                                                                                                     Worship Him God on High.

    Oh, star of wonder, star of night
    Star with royal beauty bright
    Westward leading, still proceeding
    Guide us to thy perfect light

    4. Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
    Breaths a life of gathering gloom
    Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying
    Sealed in the stone-cold tomb

    Oh, star of wonder, star of night
    Star with royal beauty bright
    Westward leading, still proceeding
    Guide us to thy perfect light

    5 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
    (back to contents)

    1. God rest ye merry, gentlemen
    Let nothing you dismay
    Remember, Christ, our Saviour
    Was born on Christmas day
    To save us all from Satan's power
    When we were gone astray

    O tidings of comfort and joy,
    Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy

    2. From God our Heavenly Father
    A blessed Angel came;
    And unto certain Shepherds
    Brought tidings of the same:
    How that in Bethlehem was born
    The Son of God by Name.

    O tidings of comfort and joy,
    Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy

    3. The shepherds at those tidings
    Rejoiced much in mind,
    And left their flocks a-feeding
    In tempest, storm and wind:
    And went to Bethlehem straightway
    The Son of God to find.

    O tidings of comfort and joy,
    Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy

    4. And when to Bethlehem they came
    Where-at the infant lay,
    They found Him in a manger,
    Where oxen feed on hay;
    His Mother Mary kneeling,
    Unto the Lord did pray.

    O tidings of comfort and joy,
    Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy

    6 Away In A Manger
    (back to contents)

    1. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
    The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
    The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
    The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

    2. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
    But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
    I love thee, Lord Jesus! look down from the sky,
    And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

    3. Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay
    Close by me forever, and love me I pray.
    Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
    And take us to heaven to live with thee there.

    7 Silent Night
    (back to contents)

    1. Silent night, holy night!
    All is calm, all is bright.
    Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
    Holy infant so tender and mild,
    Sleep in heavenly peace,
    Sleep in heavenly peace                        

    2. Silent night, holy night!
    Shepherds quake at the sight.
    Glories stream from heaven afar
    Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
    Christ the Saviour is born!
    Christ the Saviour is born
                                
    3. Silent night, holy night!
    Son of God love's pure light.
    Radiant beams from Thy holy face
    With the dawn of redeeming grace,
    Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
    Jesus Lord, at Thy birth 

    8 While Shepherds Watched
    (back to contents)

    1. While shepherds watched Their flocks by night 
    All seated on, all the ground 
    The angel of the Lord came down 
    And glory shone around

    2. "Fear not," said he, For mighty dread 
    Had seized their troubled minds 
    "Glad tidings of great joy I bring  
    To you and all mankind”

    3. Thus spake the seraph, And forthwith 
    Appeared a shining throng 
    Of angels praising God, who thus
    Addressed their joyful song

    4. "All glory be to God on high 
    And to the earth be peace; 
    Goodwill henceforth From heaven to men 
    Begin and never cease” 

    9 As With Gladness
    (back to contents)

    1. As with gladness men of old
     did the guiding star behold,
     as with joy they hailed its light,
     leading onward, beaming bright:
     so, most gracious Lord, may we
     evermore be led to thee.

    2. As with joyful steps they sped
     Saviour, to your lowly bed,
     there to bend the knee before
     thee, whom heaven and earth adore:
     so may we with willing feet
     ever seek thy mercy-seat.

    3. As they offered gifts most rare
     at thy cradle rude and bare,
     so may we with holy joy
     pure and free from sin's alloy,
     all our costliest treasures bring,
     Christ, to you, our heavenly king.

    10 O Come, All Ye Faithful
    (back to contents)

    1. O come, all ye faithful, 
    joyful and triumphant!
    O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
    Come and behold Him
    Born the King of Angels:
    O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
    Christ the Lord.

    2. God of God, light of light,
    Lo, he abhors not the Virgin's womb;
    Very God, begotten, not created:
    O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
    Christ the Lord.

    3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
    Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!
    Glory to God, glory in the highest:
    O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
    Christ the Lord.

    11 Jingle Bells
    (back to contents)

    Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
    Oh what fun it is to ride 
    in a one-horse open sleigh

    Dashing through the snow
    In a one-horse open sleigh
    O’er the fields we go
    Laughing all the way
    Bells on bobtail ring
    Making spirits bright
    What fun it is to ride and sing 
    a sleighing song tonight

    12 We Wish You A Merry Christmas
    (back to contents)

    1. We wish you a Merry Christmas x3
    And a Happy New Year!
    Good tidings we bring
    to you and your kin
    We wish you a Merry Christmas
    and a Happy New Year!

    2. Now bring us some figgy pudding (x3)
    And bring some out here!
    Good tidings we bring
    to you and your kin
    We wish you a Merry Christmas
    and a Happy New Year!

    3. For we all like figgy pudding (x3)
    So bring some out here!
    Good tidings we bring
    to you and your kin
    We wish you a Merry Christmas
    and a Happy New Year!

    4. And we won't go out till we've got some (x3)
    So bring some out here!
    Good tidings we bring
    to you and your kin
    We wish you a Merry Christmas
    and a Happy New Year