Eric Milner-White was born in 1884 to the barrister Henry Milner-White, later Sir Henry Milner-White. Eric was educated at Harrow and matriculated at King's College, Cambridge in 1903, having won a scholarship to read history. He later received a double first, winning the Lightfoot Scholarship in 1906. He was ordained a deacon in 1908 and returned to King's in 1912. After serving as an army chaplain during World War I, and receiving the Distinguished Service Order for his efforts, he returned to King's where he was made Fellow and Dean. He remained at the college until 1941. One of his most lasting achievements while at the college was the introduction of the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, first broadcast in 1928 and now a cornerstone of the BBC's Christmas schedule. In 1941, Milner-White was called to York to act as Dean and remained there until his death in 1963. During that period, he was responsible for replacing a high proportion of the windows in York Minster, an act that eventually garnered him the award of Commander of the British Empire. His liturgical and devotional interests were made manifest in numerous printed works, including 'My God My Glory' (1954) and in his service on several national committees. His interest in stained glass and other forms of art led to his appointment to the Advisory Council of the Victoria and Albert Museum between 1944 and 1959 .