John Rutter writes:

'In 1971, David Willcocks invited me to co-edit Carols for Choirs 2. This most happy association cemented my lifelong association with Cambridge and with Christmas, and in calling this double album A Cambridge Christmas, I am paying homage to that association. Some of the carols included in it were written by Cambridge authors or musicians, others were made famous by Cambridge Choirs, some I have included just because I like them, and there are several carols I have arranged or composed myself, generally for friends or organisations I cherish.