That First Christmas Night is a short carol:

December 2013
This song was composed following a request from Sister Mary Bernadette Ward (then resident in Worksop) to my mother (also resident in Worksop) – “Would Cheryl like to set my poem to music?” Cheryl would, and here it is in it’s original version for SATB, performed by Rock Festival Choir. The images on the video are all of Worksop in Nottinghamshire, my home town.
It also exists in a high voices version with piano accompaniment, and this version has been performed by several primary school choirs.

Here are the lyrics:

A child of given destiny, 
Hope of the ages, eternal light. 
Angels, shepherds, kings, 
all sang at your birth that first Christmas night. 

Child of the dawn, 
your light dapples through creation 
Bringing life and love to our broken world. 
Peace to all on earth this Christmas night.

O wisdom, o vitality of God, 
Power of peace, blessed are we 
whose lives are filled with Christ, 
The child of Christmas night. 
This child of Christmas night.

Silence and darkness, 
Your light bursts into life, 
Dancing and singing for joy 
Because of that first Christmas night.
That first Christmas night.
That first Christmas night.

The melody is gentle and lyrical, and the carol flows along in a cheery manner. The accompaniment has a few rhythmic quirks, but these are easily surmounted, and the song has been popular over the years with several performances that I know of in both versions!

Go to That First Christmas Night for mixed voices
Go to That First Christmas Night for high voices with accompaniment

Here’s the video of version for high voices with accompaniment.

I have the backing track for this version here – ask me if you want it!

If you like this one, you might like other short carols I’ve composed over the years. Click the links for more information:
Alleluia Into The Light
The Lamb
Hodie Christus Natus Est
In The Bleak Midwinter
Cantate Domino
Tiny, Flickering Flame
Carol Of Godric Of Finchale
Chantry Chapel Carol
Magical Glass
Omnes de Saba
Dies Sanctificatus

Update February 2026
Rock Festival Choir have continued to sing this carol regularly as part of their Advent recitals, including in 2025, and also at Candlemas one year. I made a new recording in November 2025. The machine was placed behind the choir, so the tenors and basses are loudest, but the performance is good nonetheless!