More than Nine Lessons and Carols

A Life of Eric Milner-White, 1884–1963

Allen Warren

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Hardback

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English

Sacristy Press
15 April 2025

Biography: religious & spiritual; Anglican & Episcopalian Churches, Church of England; Christian leaders & leadership

Eric Milner-White (1884‒1963), priest and churchman, was educated at Harrow and King’s College, Cambridge (1897‒1907). He secured a double first in history, was an able sportsman with an exotic religious and personal life. Personal tensions led to a crisis in 1905, as a result of which he decided to become a celibate Anglo-Catholic priest.

As dean of King’s, he pioneered the Christmas Eve service of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s later that year, which became known and celebrated throughout the English-speaking world

A talented liturgist and writer of prayers, he was invited to prepare the service order for the National Day of Prayer in late May 1940 for Britain and the Empire, which led to his nomination to become Dean of York in late 1941.

He played a distinctive role within the city, minster, diocese, and wider church. As one of the founders of the civic trust, he led the city’s campaign to secure a university (1947‒60), as well as preservation of the city’s heritage, most notably, if controversially, the minster itself through his own dominance in relation to its unique medieval glass.

As a personality, he divided opinion. He remained shy, secretive, and devious in many situations, but also could act decisively and without consultation. From early in life, he had no lack of self-confidence, because as was later expressed, ‘he knew he was right’. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he destroyed nearly all his personal and family material prior to his death in 1963.

By: Allen Warren
Imprint: Sacristy Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 14mm
Weight: 390g
ISBN: 9781789593976
ISBN 10: 1789593972
Pages: 218
Publication Date: 15 April 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Allen Warren was educated at Bristol Grammar School and New College, Oxford. He joined the History Department, University of York in 1971, remaining at York for his whole career, which included being Head of the Department, and Provost of Vanbrugh college for 24 years. He retired in 2011.

Reviews for More than Nine Lessons and Carols: A Life of Eric Milner-White, 1884–1963

Allen Warren, with the inquisitiveness of a historian, opens many windows into the life of Eric Milner-White to provide the first thorough assessment of his gifts and complexities. We encounter far more than the Milner-White of Nine Lessons and Carols as we see into this twentieth century dean quest for the beauty of holiness through art, music, architecture, stained glass and, above all, the crafting of prayers. - Graham Usher, Bishop of NorwichThis book is not just a study of the churchman who made a college service into the intangible patrimony of the entire English-speaking world. It is the portrait of an era. When the Church of England was led by some of the cleverest and the bravest in our country. When the hyper-privileged organized missions to the poorest in our society. When the established Church was a key part of the Establish-ment. When the bases of our modern university system were being laid, and heritage conservation became a political imperative. When major public figures had very private lives. And when an unmarried Dean, with a taste for the ballet, charming young men and ceramics, could pass without comment. - Neil MacGregor, art historian