This year’s festive theme is ‘Follow the Star: Calm and Bright’ – and Bradford Cathedral would like to welcome you in this December

This year’s theme for Advent and Christmas at Bradford Cathedral is ‘Follow The Star: Calm and Bright’ – and you are invited to visit the Cathedral this December for services and events, or to discover more about the historic space.

Advent begins on Sunday 1st December – and the season starts with the switching on of the Cathedral’s ‘Star in the Tower’, which is joined for the third year by the State Gate light curtain, supported by Bradford BID.

The Cathedral will also be decorated with a Christmas tree in the West End, lit up by candles during many of the services, and there will also be two cribs within the State Gate and the Holy Spirit Chapel.

Also, Bradford Cathedral and members of our congregation will feature in this year’s Church of England Christmas advert.

Bradford BID says:

“We are delighted to help ensure the light curtain installation can once again be part of Bradford’s city centre festive celebrations. This stunning feature also provides essential lighting to the stairgate area, enhancing safety for evening visitors.”

Services and Events

There are many events and services happening which you are invited to attend. Alongside the regular services (the Sunday Eucharist is also streamed online) there is the Advent Procession (1st December), Nine Lessons and Carols (22nd December), the Midnight Eucharist (24th December), and the Christmas Day Eucharist, when the Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, will be presiding and preaching.

For families, there is the return of the popular Messy Crib service on Christmas Eve, and there will be ‘An International Christmas’, featuring music and readings from international communities based in- and around- Bradford, on Saturday 14th December.

Musically, there is the next Concert by Candlelight on Saturday 7th December, featuring popular Christmas music; an Advent Meditation on Friday 20th December featuring music written and performed by pianist Rachel Chaplin, alongside monologues performed by Revd Canon Ned Lunn; there is the third ‘Black Dyke Band and Bradford Cathedral Choir Christmas Concert’ on Saturday 21st December; Maddy Prior and The Carnival Band will be performing ‘Carols & Capers’ as part of their Fortieth Anniversary & Farewell Tour on Monday 23rd December; and the very popular Annual Lunchtime Carol Concert, which will take place on Christmas Eve.

The Advent Meditation event is part-funded by Bradford Council’s West Area Committee and supported by the Bradford West Area Co-ordinator’s Office.

The free organ recital season also concludes with Wednesday lunchtime performances on the 4th, 11th and 18th December.

There are also lots of services and events coming up in conjunction with partners across the City and District, including ‘Carols for All’ on Monday 16th December, which is a new event that combines the annual City Carol Service and the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership Carol Service.

Alongside these are many other events, such as the annual festive-themed Monday Fellowship gathering, and the Choir will be singing at The Corn Dolly following their Christmas Eve concert.

Full details of all these events can be found on the Bradford Cathedral website, across the Cathedral’s social media or by picking up the flyer or our Sep-Dec what’s on booklet, which are available at the Cathedral, The Broadway Bradford, City Hall, Bradford Libraries and other places around the City.

A Message from the Dean

The Very Revd Andy Bowerman, Dean of Bradford, says:

“I want to extend you a warm welcome to our Advent and Christmas services and events during the coming weeks.

“As ever, you’ll be able to Follow Our Star on top of the tower and find your way to this hidden treasure at the heart of the city.

“Throughout the Advent season there’ll be all sorts of exciting opportunities for you to come and not just engage in worship but explore the Cathedral and join in some of our many events. There’ll be carol services, there’ll be mince pies and mulled wine; all sorts of ways that we want to generously welcome you into your Cathedral at the heart of this city.”

Online Activities

Alongside the events and services taking place in the Cathedral, there is plenty to find online: there are themed school resources for the season; and Bradford Cathedral will feature as part of the Association of English Cathedral’s festive campaign.

We will also be releasing a short series of videos featuring members of our team, showcasing how they find ‘Moments of Calm’ during the busy Advent period.

As well as these there will be daily religious reflections; the Bradvent Calendar videos from previous years on the Cathedral’s YouTube channel – with many craft activities, choir performances and much more to watch and take part in – and other new short videos across our social media.

Be More Environmentally Friendly

We are also re-running the Bradford Cathedral eCard. You can head to the Cathedral’s website to send an online Christmas card to your friends and family, helping the environment by reducing the number of physical cards you send out.

Of course, you can also buy copies of the Bradford Cathedral Christmas Card in the shop or online – though stocks are limited – alongside Advent Calendars and other festive goods. And if you’re buying items online this year, find out how you can support the Cathedral with every purchase through the easyfundraising website.

Follow the Star: Calm and bright

The Church of England’s theme for Advent and Christmas 2024, Follow the Star: Calm and Bright, draws on the world-famous carol, Silent Night:

“Silent Night! Holy Night!

All is calm, all is bright…”

December can feel like chaos – lots of social events, services, Christmas presents to buy, never-ending to-do lists and the pressure to create the perfect Christmas. But in the midst of this chaos, our churches can offer an opportunity to find peace during this busy time.

One of the reasons that this carol is so universally loved is the way it invites us into the still centre of the Christmas story, to contemplate Mary holding the new-born Jesus, the Light of the World.

The angelic messages we encounter in the biblical story of Jesus’ birth typically hold together the need for calm in the present (“Do not be afraid” … “Fear not”) with the hope of a bright future (“for you have found favour with God” … “for behold I bring you tidings of great joy”).

Throughout Advent, we will focus primarily on how to find Calm during this busy period, with reflections offering people a chance to pause during the busy season and tips on how to prepare for a calm Christmas.

Then through Christmas, we will focus particularly on Bright, with a series of daily reflections from Christmas Day to the Eve of Epiphany (5 January) by Sammi Tooze, Discipleship Adviser for the Diocese of York, both in digital form and as a full-colour booklet to share locally.

We will also share reflective content throughout Advent and Christmas for those who find this time of year difficult, with some Blue Christmas resources.

Join Us

So, we’d like to invite you this Advent and Christmas to Bradford Cathedral – to visit, for services, for events or for a space to reflect. Look out for our Star in the Tower to direct you here – and head up through our State Gate, lit up for the season!

You can find out more about all the events and services happening in December by visiting bradfordcathedral.org.uk/advent-christmas, calling the Cathedral office on 01274 77 77 20, visiting the Cathedral during its daily opening hours, or picking up a flyer or our What’s On booklet. You can also find our opening times over the Christmas holiday on the website.

Full list of extra events and services – with times

Sunday 1st December, 6pm
Advent ProcessionWednesday 4th December, 1pm
Wednesday@One Organ Recital: Shanna Hart (St Botolph without Aldgate)Saturday 7th December, 7:30pm
Christmas by CandlelightMonday 9th December, 2pm
Monday FellowshipWednesday 11th December, 1pm
Wednesday@One Christmas Organ Spectacular: Ed Jones (Freelance Organist)Saturday 14th December, 6pm
An International ChristmasMonday 16th December, 7pm
Carols for AllWednesday 18th December, 1pm
Wednesday@One Organ Recital – Darius Battiwalla (Leeds City Organist)Friday 20th December, 1pm
Advent MeditationSaturday 21st December, 7pm
Black Dyke Band and Bradford Cathedral Choir Christmas ConcertSunday 22nd December, 6pm
Nine lessons and carolsMonday 23rd December, 7:30pm
Maddy Prior and The Carnival Band – Carols & Capers the Fortieth Anniversary & Farewell Tour 2024Tuesday 24th December, 1pm
Annual Lunchtime Carol ConcertTuesday 24th December, 3pm
Messy Cathedral Crib ServiceTuesday 24th December, 11pm
Midnight EucharistMonday 25th December, 10:30am
Christmas Day Eucharist