Advent and Christmas 2023 Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from St Albans Cathedral.
www.stalbanscathedral.org/christmas
Advent and Christmas “Greetings from your Cathedral and our warmest invitation to you, your family and friends, to join our Advent and Christmas celebrations. As we celebrate Christ, the Prince of Peace, let us pray together for peace in our world, our communities, our homes and our hearts. Let us each also be bearers of that peace to one another, especially those most in need. We look forward to sharing this holy season with you.” The Very Reverend Jo Kelly-Moore, Dean of St Albans Join us from the comfort of your own home this festive period for livestreamed services which are marked with a .
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Ticketing Information Our ticketed services this year are Lessons and Carols on 21 and 22 December. Free tickets can be booked on our website under the event page from 8 December. These services are very popular so please be aware that tickets may go quickly.
Donate this Christmas Please consider donating to St Albans Cathedral this Christmas. Whether it is a one-off donation or a regular contribution, your support will help the Cathedral. This Christmas, the Cathedral is supporting Centre 33, a charity which provides practical support for people who are in need, homeless or otherwise socially deprived.
The Snowman Tour
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Saturday 2 December, 3.15pm and 6.30pm A very special performance featuring two of the UK’s bestloved animated films, The Snowman and Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers, with live accompaniment from an outstanding professional orchestra. Tickets for this event are available on our website.
The Carol Concert by The Hospice of St Francis
Sunday 3 December, 3pm A magical afternoon of festive carols and readings with local choirs, guaranteed to get you into the Christmas spirit. Tickets for this event are available on our website.
Advent Procession
Sunday 3 December, 6pm All are welcome to join us for this atmospheric, candlelit service sung by the Cathedral Choir to mark the start of Advent and prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ.
Willow Carol Concert
Tuesday 5 December, 7.30pm Enjoy an evening of your favourite Christmas carols sung by the Hertfordshire Chorus. Tickets for this event are available on our website.
Bach Choir Carol Concerts
Saturday 9 December, 3pm and 7pm Join St Albans Bach Choir, Embassy Brass, James McVinnie and Andrew Lucas for two concerts of Christmas music. Tickets for this event are available on our website.
Christingle
Sunday 10 December, 2.30pm This service uses a decorated orange as a symbol to explore the story of God’s love for the world at Christmas. During the service candles are lit to represent the light of Christ. All donations from this service will go to The Children’s Society.
Organ Meditation - La Nativite du Seigneur
Sunday 10 December, 4.45pm Tom Winpenny, Assistant Master of the Music, performs Olivier Messiaen’s evocative sequence of music based on the Christmas story. Free admission, retiring collection for the Cathedral Music Department.
Quiet Abbey in Advent
Monday 11 and Monday 18 December, 7.30pm Experience this ancient building in meditative silence during the season of Advent. Lit only by candlelight, the Cathedral will be open for quiet reflection and private prayer. Admission to the Cathedral is free. Donations are welcomed.
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Gifts that tell stories Adopt St Albans Cathedral and give something truly unique this Christmas. Choose a recycled Roman brick visible in the medieval tower, a melodious pipe from the Harrison & Harrison organ, or an historic manuscript or artefact from the Cathedral archive. From £25, find out more on our website or visit the Cathedral Shop to pick up a festive and historic Christmas Adopt St Albans Cathedral gift pack.
Cathedral Shop
Open daily | 10am - 5pm The Cathedral Shop is the perfect place to find the ideal gift for friends and family this Christmas, with a range of decorations, cards and gifts inspired by the Cathedral and the Nativity story. Felipe the Sheep We are excited to release our own children’s book which follows the story of Felipe, the lost sheep of the Cathedral. This is available to purchase from the shop throughout December. NEW CD from the Cathedral Girls Choir Our Cathedral Girls Choir has just launched a new CD of Carols and Anthems by Elizabeth Poston in time for Christmas! A wonderful stocking pairing with the Bruckner CD from the Cathedral Choir earlier this year.
Abbot’s Kitchen
Open daily | 10am - 4pm Drop into Abbot’s Kitchen to enjoy a selection of winter warmers. 4
Sip and Paint | Friday 15 December, 6.30pm - 8.30pm Join us for a festive evening painting Christmas ornaments whilst indulging in some holiday treats and drinks. Pre-book your ticket in the Abbot’s Kitchen.
Carols on the Hour
Saturday 16 December, 11am - 4pm Join us for one of our bitesize carol services, taking place on the hour, every hour. Come and sing carols for all to hear with different choirs from St Albans! 11am The Big Choir 12pm Just Sing 1pm Viva Ladies Chorus 2pm Classical Chorus 3pm Parish Singers 4pm Abbey Singers and Lay Clerks of the Cathedral Choir
Live Nativity Trail
Saturday 16 December, 12pm - 3pm Look out for the animals and characters from the Nativity right here in St Albans! Travel around the city with your trusty map, meeting characters and collecting stamps. Come and see the story of Christmas brought to life.
Parish Eucharist with Nativity Play
Sunday 17 December, 9.30am The children of St Albans Cathedral star in this heart-warming retelling of the very first Christmas. In times when hope and joy are so desperately needed, join us on the journey to that stable in Bethlehem where true hope is to be found.
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Lessons and Carols Thursday 21 and Friday 22 December, 7.30pm
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A cornerstone of the Cathedral’s Christmas programme, the timeless and atmospheric candlelit service of Lessons and Carols features music from the Cathedral Choirs and traditional seasonal readings. Tickets for Lessons and Carols are free and will be available on our website from 8 December. The Friday service will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel. If you find you are no longer able to attend, please email christmas@stalbanscathedral.org so we can reallocate your tickets.
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Christmas Eve Sung Eucharist, 10am Our Sunday morning eucharists are combined into one service on Christmas Eve, with the music led by the Parish Singers.
Crib Service, 1pm and 2.30pm The Cathedral’s beautiful nativity scene is assembled by children from the congregation in these two fun, family-friendly, carol services.
Choral Vespers, 5pm
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As night falls on Christmas Eve, this beautiful and reflective service of music, readings and prayer marks the end of the Advent season. The service will be sung by the Cathedral Choir.
Midnight Mass, 11pm
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Midnight Mass marks the beginning of Christmas with this traditional, exciting late-night celebration of the birth of Christ. With popular carols and music from the Cathedral Choir.
Christmas Day Eucharist, 8am
Join us for an early, simple Eucharist in traditional language with congregational carols.
Christmas Day Eucharist, 9.30am
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Eucharist for Christmas Day in the Nave, sung by the Cathedral Girls Choir, the Lay Clerks of the Cathedral Choir and the Parish Singers. Christmas Children’s Church takes place during the service.
Christmas Day Choral Eucharist, 11.15am
Eucharist for Christmas Day in the Nave, sung by the Cathedral Girls Choir and Lay Clerks of the Cathedral Choir. Please note, there will be no daily guided tours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Following the 11.15am Eucharist, the Cathedral will be closed for the rest of Christmas Day.
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Come back and see us soon! Boxing Day On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... Carols on Boxing Day, 4pm Join us for an informal service of carols and readings, for another chance to sing Christmas carols this year.
New Year Carols on New Year’s Eve, 4pm Join us for an informal service of carols and readings. New Year Concert 2024, Monday 1 January 7pm St Albans Symphony Orchestra start the year off with a sparkling concert of classical favourites. Peace Doves, 3 January - 13 February An art installation created by Peter Walker Sculptor. Join us in the new year for an array of events surrounding this captivating centrepiece of unity. St Albans Cathedral Sumpter Yard, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 1BY 01727 890210 | mail@stalbanscathedral.org www.stalbanscathedral.org
Opening times The Cathedral is open daily 8.30am – 5.30pm, except for Christmas Day when we will be closing at 1pm.
Entry is free
All donations are gratefully received.
Tickets
Book online at www.stalbanscathedral.org, in person at our Box Office, located in the Cathedral Shop, or call 01727 890290. /StAlbansCathedralOfficial @StAlbansCathedral @StAlbansCath @StAlbansCathedral Photography (C) Toby Shepheard
The Cathedral Community would like to thank Aylett Nurseries for their generous donation of our Christmas trees. www.aylettnurseries.co.uk