Hundreds enjoy Christmas at Norwich Cathedral 

From festive concerts to a Christmas Procession with Carols, hundreds of people are enjoying taking part in seasonal events at Norwich Cathedral in the run-up to Christmas.

On Sunday December 22, a full Cathedral enjoyed the sublime sound of Norwich Cathedral Choir moving around the centuries-old building for the first of two Christmas Processions with Carols.

Starting from the upper levels of the East End the procession journeying through the Cathedral to the West Door, accompanied by festive music. The Christmas Procession – one of the highlights of the Cathedral’s busy programme of services throughout Advent - will be repeated again on Christmas Eve at 3.30pm.
 
The Cathedral’s choirs have also been entertaining audiences with two sold-out concerts in December. Christmas with Norwich Cathedral Choir on Friday December 13 saw more than 800 people enjoy an evening of festive musical favourites ranging from Away In A Manger to The 12 Days Of Christmas, meanwhile on Saturday December 21 another packed audience enjoyed hearing Norwich Cathedral Chamber Choir, Norwich Baroque and soloists perform Handel’s Messiah by Candlelight.
 
The Dean of Norwich, the Very Rev Jane Hedges, said: “It is wonderful to have so many people of all ages joining us in celebrating this very special time of year and enjoying a great variety of events here at the Cathedral - from our festive services to our choirs’ concerts and occasions such as our Advent Open Evening.
 
“As December 25 draws near, we look forward to welcoming even more people to our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services and we wish everyone a very happy Christmas.
 
“The Cathedral is open every day throughout the Christmas and New Year period and we hope all who visit will experience the joy of this great festival and take with them the message of peace and goodwill to all people.”
 
Also on Christmas Eve, families can enjoy an informal crib service at 12 noon when the Cathedral’s Sunday School will help to bring the Nativity story to life and the newly-formed Norwich Cathedral Children’s Choir will perform for the first time. Children are invited to come to the service dressed as characters from the Nativity.
 
The traditional Midnight Mass to welcome in Christmas Day will begin at 11.15pm on Christmas Eve and people are advised to arrive early.
 
On Christmas Day, the Family Eucharist will take place at 10.30am and the Festal Evensong with Carols will take place at 3.30pm.
 
Looking ahead to the New Year, people are invited to place their resolutions before the Cathedral’s indoor crib scene throughout the day on New Year’s Eve.
 
The Tree of Remembrance will also remain outside the Hostry next to the outdoor crib until Sunday 5 January. People are invited to remember a loved one by placing a star on the tree.
 
There are also lots of events to look forward to in January, including two free organ recitals – assistant organist George Inscoe will perform a New Year’s Day Organ Recital at 11am meanwhile Cathedral organist David Dunnett will perform Olivier Messiaen’s La Nativité du Seigneur on Sunday 12 January at 6pm.
 
The Epiphany Procession will take place at 3.30pm on Sunday 19 January and Norwich Cathedral’s boy and girl choristers will perform Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols on Sunday 26 January at 6.30pm.
 
For more details about all of Norwich Cathedral’s events and services, visit cathedral.org.uk
 
Pictured top is the Christmas Procession with Carols and, above, Norwich Cathedral Choir. Photography by Bill Smith.