A CATHEDRAL will be breaking new ground when its special Nine Lessons and Carols service is streamed live to a global audience.

The service at Ripon at 5.30pm tomorrow (December 23) is being streamed for the first time via the Periscope app.

Ripon Cathedral is one of four churches chosen to tell the Christmas story in this way, illustrating the broad range of Anglican worship.

It is part of the Church of England’s new media project, @churchlive, which began in October with a different church broadcasting a live weekly service to a global audience.

People can access the services by logging on to the internet via the Periscope app on their mobile phone or tablet.

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Rev John Dobson, said: “The cathedral’s online presence has grown enormously over the past few years and it is very exciting to be involved in the Church of England’s latest social media project.

“While it is lovely that people can join us in the cathedral itself, this is not possible for some people owing to illness or distance. It is brilliant that at this special time of the year, no matter where people live, they can share in our worship.”

Ripon Cathedral will also garner a huge international congregation on Christmas morning, with a broadcast on BBC Radio 4 shortly after 9am.

The festive morning service was recorded in the cathedral’s nave just five days before Christmas and will air to an audience of millions across the world.

The service will be led by the Dean and the cathedral’s choristers will be joined by director of music Andrew Bryden and a brass ensemble.

Children from the choir and congregation will also assist in the giving of apples to members of the public, a local seasonal tradition believed to date back to the Middle Ages.