Great St Mary's
Carol Competition 2026
£250 prize

This year, Great St Mary's is launching its first Christmas Carol Composition Competition. The competition is open to all composers who would like to write a carol based on the text below, by Ally Barrett. The carols will be judged by a panel made up of Alexander Berry (Director of Music, Great St Mary's), Ally Barrett (Associate Vicar, Great St Mary's), and the following composers: Richard Causton (Professor in Composition, University of Cambridge), Cheryl Frances-Hoad, and Richard Peat. 

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The deadline for entries is 1 September 2026. All submissions should be sent by email to the Clerk to the Judging Panel, Stanley Godfrey (stanleyg@gsm.cam.ac.uk). Please read the Competition Regulations carefully before making your submission. 

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Gloria in excelsis Deo…

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As ancient starlight first begins to trace

its path along the curve of time and space
it bears God’s love-song to the human race:

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In terra pax…

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A song of peace, its notes split frozen air

with glory still no human ear can bear,

yet tunes our atoms into living prayer:

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Laudamus te…

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As heav'n enfolds the earth in this embrace

th'eternal Word steps into time and place

that human nature might give birth to grace:

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Fili unigenite…

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So love is sung and born and cradled there,

a child of love, whose loving would repair

the wounded world, and heal its deep despair:

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Miserere…

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And she, who bears that living truth and grace,

becomes for heaven and earth a meeting place,

and sees the world’s salvation face to face.

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Gloria in excelsis Deo.

 

Ally Barrett