Christmas begins in the gathering darkness just after 3pm on Christmas Eve when a chorister in King’s College Chapel in Cambridge sings the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City.

This can be heard live on Radio 4.

The service first took place at Truro Cathedral in 1880 and will do so there again at 7pm.

Truro’s service can followed live via the cathedral website.

Advent gives way to Christmas and its twelve days.