Advent and Christmas at Bradford Cathedral
We welcome you to Bradford Cathedral this Advent and Christmas to celebrate the festive season with us. We have a range of carol services for you to enjoy, as well as other Christmas services and events. The Cathedral will also be beautifully decorated for the festive season and we will be open for visitors as normal for you to enjoy the building and grounds.
A Message from the Dean
Hello. My name is Andy Bowerman and I’m the Dean of Bradford.
Here in the Cathedral, during Advent and Christmas, We’re wanting people to find a space to find some calm. Follow the Star, Calm and Bright, is the theme for this year, and we know that Christmas and Advent can be so distracting. There can be so many things to get ready, so more things to prepare for, and so we want to offer you the opportunity to come and be here, whether it’s just through the week when you might sit quietly, whether it’s to come to one of the many events that we’ve got on, or whether it’s to come and worship with us, starting with our Advent Procession on December 1st, but going right the way through to Christmas Day.
You would be welcome at any time to come and join us here. Follow that star, which you’ll see – burning brightly on top of our tower, and come and find some calm in the busy-ness – and often the chaos – that leads to Christmas.
Follow the Star
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.
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…”
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.
Lighting up the Cathedral
During Advent and Christmas we light up our ‘Star in the Tower’ and we have the return of the light curtain on the state gate, courtesy of Bradford BID
Cribs
You can visit our cribs in the State Gate undercroft and our Holy Spirit Chapel, when they are installed later in November.
Main Advent and Christmas Events and Services
Sunday 1st December | 6pm
Advent Procession
Advent is a season of expectation, of Jesus’ first coming as a baby and of his anticipated second coming to make all things well. Join us for this atmospheric service in which that story is told through movement and music, from darkness to light.
Wednesday 4th December | 1pm
Wednesday@One Organ Recital – Shanna Hart (St Botolph without Aldgate, London)
Our weekly organ recital series showcases top-class performers playing beautiful music from across the centuries in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Saturday 7th December | 7:30pm
Christmas By Candlelight
A spectacular West End Cast and incredible live band perform your favourite Christmas Hits, as you have never heard them before!
‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas’, so, join us at Bradford Cathedral for this magical evening of best loved festive songs, performed live by Candlelight.
Featuring sing-along classics such as ‘White Christmas’, ‘Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!’, ‘Santa Baby’, ‘O Holy Night’ and ‘Winter Wonderland’, this uplifting concert is the perfect way to celebrate a ‘Holly Jolly Christmas’ with all the family!
Monday 9th December | 2pm
Christmas Fellowship
All are welcome to attend, whether you wish to come monthly, as a one-off or dip in and out.
We would love to see you! All talks are followed by refreshments and the meetings begin with a prayer and hymn.
This month is Christmas Fellowship: Carols, stories, poems, food and fellowship at Christmas.
Wednesday 11th December | 1pm
Wednesday@One Organ Recital – Ed Jones (Freelance Organist)
Our weekly organ recital series showcases top-class performers playing beautiful music from across the centuries in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Saturday 14th December | 6pm
International Christmas
Last year we launched this informal, multilingual Christmas service featuring music and readings from international communities based in and around Bradford. This year it returns to lead us into the season, celebrating the global significance of Christmas across different cultures.
The service will conclude with light refreshments including nibbles from some of these cultural traditions.
Monday 16th December | 7pm
Carols for All
Bringing together the City Carol Service and the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership Carol Service into one shared event. This event is being hosted by Bradford Cathedral and will feature seasonal music led by the Bradford Cathedral Choir and the City of Bradford Brass Band. All are welcome.
Wednesday 18th December | 1pm
Wednesday@One Organ Recital – Darius Battiwalla (Leeds City Organist)
Our weekly organ recital series showcases top-class performers playing beautiful music from across the centuries in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Friday 20th December | 1pm
Advent Meditation
In a special collaboration for this Advent, monologues by Revd Canon Ned Lunn and music by Rachel Chaplin are performed together in the beautiful surroundings of Bradford Cathedral.
This project is part-funded by Bradford Council’s West Area Committee and supported by the Bradford West Area Co-ordinator’s Office. For more information please visit the Bradford West People Can Facebook group.
Saturday 21st December | 7pm
Black Dyke Band and Bradford Cathedral Choir Christmas Concert
Join us this December as Black Dyke Band and the Bradford Cathedral Choir perform together at an incredible Christmas concert.
Sunday 22nd December | 6pm
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Popularised by the annual broadcast from King’s College, Cambridge, the Festival of Nine Lessons and carols tells the story of humanity and Jesus Christ through bible readings and choral and congregational carols. All are welcome to join us for this special candlelit service followed by seasonal refreshments.
Monday 23rd December | 7:30pm
Maddy Prior and The Carnival Band – Carols & Capers the Fortieth Anniversary & Farewell Tour 2024
This guarantees to be a Christmas Party to remember – a celebration of a unique partnership.
Tuesday 24th December | 1pm
Annual Lunchtime Carol Recital
The Cathedral Choir presents its annual recital. Music, poetry, witty Christmas stories and the best-loved Christmas carols come together in this yearly sing-a-long celebration.
Tuesday 24th December | 3pm
Messy Cathedral Crib Service
Messy Crib returns for another interactive service involving storytelling, craft, music and prayers. Follow the star and meet some of the people who were there at the first messy Christmas in the messy stable and found Jesus in his messy crib. You are encouraged to come dressed as one of your favourite nativity characters.
Tuesday 24th December | 11pm
Midnight Eucharist
The music is by the Cathedral choir with a number of congregational carols.
Wednesday 25th December | 10:30am
Christmas Day Sung Eucharist
Cathedral worship using Common Worship.
The Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, will be presiding and preaching.
Other Things To See
Tuesday 24th December
Singing at the Corn Dolly
Please join us after the Annual Lunchtime Choir Recital (around 2:15pm)
Archive Content
Here is the Bradford Cathedral Consort singing a piece which the Church of England have commissioned for Follow the Star: Join the Song in 2023 – a setting of ‘The First Nowell’ by Bob Chilcott.
What is a Christingle you ask? – Watch the video to find out what a Christingle is and how to make one! If you make your own Christingle, you will need an adult to help you. We hope you enjoyed the video and have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! At Bradford Cathedral we are holding a Messy Cathedral Crib service for children. You can join us on Christmas Eve, the 24th of December, from 3:00pm – 4:15pm.
At the interactive service, you will find storytelling, crafts, live music and prayers. Follow the star and meet some of the people who were there at the first messy Christmas in the messy stable and found Jesus in his messy crib. You are encouraged to come dressed as one of your favourite nativity characters.
A specially recorded piece of organ music for every day of Advent in 2023
Our 2021 Bradvent Calendar videos, featuring poetry, music, activites and more!
Events and Services
You can see a full overview of all our events and services on our ‘What’s On’ page, or see above for our highlights.
Digital Schools Resources
You can discover resources for schools over in our education section.
Association of English Cathedrals
The AEC’s festive theme this year is all about angels – look out for more soon
Church of England daily reflections
Over the period of Advent you’ll be able to view daily reflections from the Church of England.
Christmas Services
Worship is the heartbeat of Cathedral life and is offered daily through online Morning and Evening Prayer and the seven services each week. The main weekly service is on Sunday at 10:30 am which is also live-streamed. You can download an Order of service in advance or use the Proclaim app instead of an Order of Service.
Help Save the Environment: Send an eCard!
You can now send a Bradford Cathedral digital eCard to your friends and family – and save on the printing!
Christmas Holiday Opening Times
Please see below for our opening times over the Christmas holiday period:
Wednesday 25th December – open for services
Thursday 26th December – Saturday 28th December – closed
Sunday 29th December – open for services
Monday 30th December – Wednesday 1st January – closed
Thursday 2nd January – open as usual
Morning and Evening Prayer between Christmas and New Year will take place online at the usual times of 9am and 5:30pm. For more information please see our prayer page.
Visit Us:
Opening times
Monday – Saturday 10am – 4pm
Please see our what’s on calendar for any changes or see our Christmas holiday opening times below.
What to See?
Bradford Cathedral has been a site of Christian worship since the 7th century. Explore over 1000 years of history in the heart of Bradford. We also have a wealth of Morris & Co. stained glass, 18th Century monuments and a range of contemporary and historic textiles.
Shop Items
You can now buy a selection of items from our shop including
- The Follow the Star advent calendar (2023 design) for £6, complete with sticker sheet
- Nativity tealight stand for £5
- Christmas cards, 10 cards for £2.50, in various designs including the Cathedral in snow; the Cathedral Christmas Tree; and a split-pack of the Cathedral / stained glass window.
Look out for more festive items to be announced soon. You can buy these, plus many more items, when the Cathedral is open Mon – Sat 10am – 4pm, and around services and events. Cash and card are accepted.
Over 7,000 brands will donate to Bradford Cathedral at no extra cost to you – so you can raise donations when you buy gifts, decorations, your festive food shopping or anything else!
Please sign up and help us raise more by visiting the easyfundraising website.