Durham Cathedral is hosting a packed programme of special services, concerts and events in the run up to Christmas.
Visiting the cathedral for Advent and Christmas is part of many people’s annual tradition and this year services start on Saturday, November 26 at 6pm, with the Advent Procession by Candlelight.
This will be repeated at the same time on November 27 and officially marks the start of advent.
These special, atmospheric services feature the theatrical procession of choir and clergy in the darkness, with only flickering candlelight illuminating their way.
On Wednesday, November 30 at 7.30pm a special NHS Carol Service will take place, with a performance from an NHS choir created especially for this event.
Durham City Christmas Festival then begins on Friday, December 2 running until December 4 providing the opportunity for people to purchase local produce and artisan goods in the unique setting of the cathedral cloister.
Read more: 'Our skyline will change forever' - Meet the team demolishing Redcar's blast furnace
Those visiting on Saturday can join a Carols for All sing-a-long service at 11am and 2pm, and visitors on Sunday can join in for festive carols at 2pm.
On December 10 at 7.30pm, Tidings of Joy: Christmas with the Choirs of Durham Cathedral will see all three of the cathedral choirs perform a concert of festive classics, encouraging the audience to sing along.
Actors Charlie Hardwick of Emmerdale and Joe Caffrey of Billy Elliot the Musical will help tell the story of Christmas in words and music.
They will entertain the audience with show-stopping rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas intermingled with John Julius Norwich’s hilarious ‘thank you’ letters from Emily to Edward in response to receiving everything from the partridge in a pear tree to the 12 drummers.
Tickets cost £5-£25 and funds from ticket sales go back to supporting music at Durham Cathedral.
Family visitors can get creative with drop-in Christmas activities inside the cathedral on the weekends of 10, 17 and 23 December.
Visitors can follow a trail to explore the cathedral’s connections to Saint Bede and create artwork using Durham Cathedral’s unique collections of treasures as inspiration.
The ever popular Lighting of the Tree and Blessing of the Crib takes place on 11 December 11 at 3.30pm.
This special service is the chance to witness the magical moment that the 26 ft tall Norwegian Spruce tree is illuminated for the first time.
On December 11 at 7pm the special St Cuthbert’s Hospice service welcomes people to Light up the Life of someone in need by making a donation in memory of a loved one.
The names of those being remembered will be entered into a book of remembrance and dedicated at this service.
On December 15 at 8pm, the cathedral will play host to a star-studded line up concert, Carols of Light, to raise vital funds for the Foundation of Light charity.
West End stars and live musicians will perform popular Christmas songs at the matinee performance of Christmas by Candlelight.
Sing-along to hits and carols including ‘White Christmas’ and ‘O Holy Night’ on Tuesday December 20 at 2.30pm.
Or treat the family to a special screening of The Snowman, accompanied with a live orchestra on December 21, with performances at 1.30pm, 4pm and 6pm.
The festivities continue with the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on December 22 at 6pm (repeated on December 24 at 3pm).
This traditional service heralding the birth of Christ always starts in darkness with a solo chorister singing the first verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’.
On Christmas Eve, the cathedral delivers a special midnight Eucharist at 11pm.
On Christmas Day itself, services begin with Holy Communion at 8am, Morning Prayer at 8.30am, Matins at 10am, Sung Eucharist at 11.15am, finishing with Evensong at 3.30pm.
The cathedral also hosts rousing carol services from local community groups, schools and organisations throughout November and December.
This may mean at times visitor access to the cathedral will be restricted. Visitors are advised to check the website before travelling to avoid disappointment.
Read more:
- 10-year deal signed to keep world-leading fire training centre at Teesside Airport
- 21 pictures of Darlington Christmas lights switch-on
- Police appeal for witnesses to incident outside Darlington primary school
If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here