“In The Bleak Midwinter” is a lovely Christmas carol written by Christina Rossetti.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When he comes to reign;
In the bleak midwinter
A stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

In these two videos the words are sung to music composed by Gustav Holst.  The video of the Winchester Cathedral Choir features Harold Darke’s musical setting.

From the formality of Gloucester Cathedral to a coffee and tea cafe in California, Corrine May accompanies herself in a moving rendition of the song.

As different as the two locations are, the music and the words are right for both places.  But then, Christ came to all people, didn’t he?

“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:10

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Copyright ©2012–2016 Iwana Carpenter