2025 at Bradford Cathedral
We look forward to welcoming you to Bradford Cathedral in 2025 as we celebrate our city as the UK City of Culture. In this special year of culture, here at the cathedral we are producing three seasons of events – ‘Creativity Under Pressure’, ‘Weaving Stories’, and ‘Global Connections’, tapping into the wealth of creativity, history, and connections we have here in Bradford.
Scroll down to explore these seasons and view or book into our upcoming events, and look out for more to be announced soon.
Creativity Under Pressure
January – April
Key Events
8th January – 16th April (not 19th February)
Organ Recital Season
Music event
The season is themed around Music in Times of War.
8th Jan – Michael Haynes (Hexham Abbey)
15th Jan – Oliver Waterer (Selby Abbey)
22nd Jan – Emma Gibbins (Chelmsford Cathedral)
29th Jan – David Cowen (Leicester Cathedral)
5th Feb – John Hosking (Blackburn Cathedral)
12th Feb – Anthony Gray (St Wilfrid, Harrogate)
26th Feb – Will Campbell (Bradford Cathedral)
5th Mar – Pete Gunstone (Bradford Cathedral)
12th Mar – James Davy (Chelmsford)
19th Mar – Graham Thorpe (Bradford Cathedral)
26th Mar – Mark Brafield (Concert Organist)
2nd Apr – Victoria Ulriksen (Norway)
9th Apr – Alex Binns (Derby Cathedral)
16th Apr – Lee Ward (Fulneck School)
Saturday 18th January
Historical Pilgrimage around Bradford Cathedral – Son et Lumiere
Tour
As we travel together around the building, the story of Bradford and its cathedral will unfold in words and music. We will hear the prayers, poetry, stories, hymns and music of former times and there will be opportunities for reflection and contemplation as we experience movement and stillness, sound and silence, symbols, story and song in this beautiful, spiritual place.
*Please note that numbers are limited for these events. Early booking is advised to avoid disappointment.
Sunday 26th January
Holocaust Memorial Service
Service
This Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp complex, and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia. All are invited to mark the occasion at a special service of Choral Evensong, led by the clergy and choir of the Cathedral.
Tuesday 28th January
Bradford Schools of Sanctuary and Tom Palmer
Author event
Bradford Schools of Sanctuary present the children’s author, Tom Palmer, who will speak about how many of his books feature refugees and why that matters to him. In collaboration with City of Sanctuary.
This is a private event.
Saturday 1st February
Blaise Wool Festival at Bradford Industrial Museum
Stall
Bradford Cathedral is supporting this event and will have a stall at the Industrial Museum, advertising our textile-related events and giving information about our Bishop Blaise “connections”.
Saturday 1st February
Ecclesiastical Textiles’ Tours
Heritage tours
Join us as we tour the Cathedral, seeing these stunning textiles in situ- some of which are rarely on display- and hearing the fascinating stories behind them.
Light refreshments will be available after the tours. Places are limited. Book early to avoid disappointment.
10th February – 4th March
Beacon of Hope
Exhibition
This exhibition presents the creative voices of students from Carlton Bolling School, young people whose art emerges from the crucibles of life in our intercultural, interfaith city. Many of these students, primarily from Muslim backgrounds, are sharing their work with the public for the first time, inviting us to see them as they see themselves. In partnership with the Cathedral, this initiative not only opens doors into the arts for these students but also offers a glimpse of resilience, strength, and hope—a prophetic testament to their experiences and aspirations as they navigate paths toward creative futures.
Saturday 22nd March
Morris & Co. Stained Glass Window Tour of Bradford Cathedral
Tours
On 24th March it will be 191 years since the birth of William Morris. To celebrate the life and work of this remarkable man, join us for a special Morris & Co. stained glass window tour of Bradford Cathedral on Saturday 22nd March.
The famous Victorian artist and designer William Morris founded Morris & Co. and, along with renowned figures such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones and Ford Madox Brown, created many pieces of stunning stained glass, some early examples of which are on display in four locations in Bradford Cathedral. The stained glass also includes a figure, recently discovered to have been designed by William De Morgan.
* The tour will also include an appreciation of the magnificent West Window, a beautiful Pre-Raphaelite window designed by Heaton, Butler and Bayne.
Light refreshments will be available after the tours.Places are limited. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Wednesday 2nd – Saturday 5th April
Gideon: a play with music
Play
Gideon Klein was a bright and brilliant young composer murdered by the Nazis.
For him, music was his lifeline and his resistance; for his doting sister, it could be his hubris. In an age of unfolding atrocity, what do you do when the music of personal solace can be used as a tool of your oppression? Amid hate, war, and propaganda, should your music play on no matter what the cost?
Gideon challenges audiences to engage deeply with history, find hidden hope, and draw strength from art as we confront upheaval in our own world. It is a co-production between Bradford Cathedral, Bradford Reformed Synagogue and Modalways CIC.
Tickets will be available soon
Wednesday 30th April
Re:Imagine – Intercultural Conversation
Talk
A series of events designed by Bradford Cathedral and the University of Bradford to explore complex issues in a welcoming, creative environment. Together, we’ll go beyond familiar perspectives, sparking new ideas for Bradford’s shared future. As we celebrate our city’s rich and diverse culture, these gatherings will invite all to contribute to the entrepreneurial spirit that has defined Bradford’s resilience and ingenuity. Each event will be unique, yet all will feature one common theme: innovative ideas to shape a sustainable and inclusive future for everyone.
Other Events
Sunday 2nd February
Bradford Come and Sing
Music
Join Bradford Cathedral Consort for their Candlemas Carol Service
Meet the cathedral’s Director of Music and the choir’s voluntary singers, and join in the sectional rehearsals with newly-appointed alto, tenor and bass Section Leads, and Lay Clerks who are supported by Cathedral Music Trust.
You’ll also hear from the cathedral’s music team about the work of the cathedral choir, and we will be pleased to update you on Cathedral Music Trust’s own programmes.
Wednesday 19th March
The Third Anglican Intercultural Mission Conference
Conference
The Anglican Network of Intercultural Churches has established itself as a significant resource for the Church of England to advocate for racial justice, promote global cultural awareness, champion God’s great commission to all nations and to encourage rehearsals for heavenly worship.
Weaving Stories
May – September
As part of our major project for City of Culture 2025, we will be helping people to explore the rich heritage of Bradford through the historic threads of the wool trade that go back to our foundations 1,400 years ago and bind our global city together. We will host demonstrations, offer tours around our many links with the wool trade and present art exhibitions on the theme of our woolen history. To accompany this we will be placing a large loom in the Cathedral and inviting everyone to add a piece of wool to a large tapestry that will hang in the Cathedral after 2025. This legacy tapestry will represent the countless stories of people’s connection to Bradford.
Job Vacancies for the Weaving Stories project
As part of our major project for City of Culture 2025, we will be helping people to explore the rich heritage of Bradford through the historic threads of the wool trade that go back to our foundations 1,400 years ago and bind our global city together. We will host demonstrations, offer tours around our many links with the wool trade and present art exhibitions on the theme of our woolen history. To accompany this we will be placing a large loom in the Cathedral and inviting everyone to add a piece of wool to a large tapestry that will hang in the Cathedral after 2025. This legacy tapestry will represent the countless stories of people’s connection to Bradford.
Weaving Stories: Visual Artist
Are you an artist inspired by community storytelling and cultural heritage? Bradford Cathedral is looking for a Visual Artist to co-create a tapestry that reflects the spirit and history of Bradford’s communities.
Weaving Stories: Sound Artist
Calling all creative sound artists! Bradford Cathedral invites you to bring Bradford’s rich cultural heritage to life by creating a soundscape for the Weaving Stories project.
Weaving Stories: Project Evaluator
Do you have a passion for uncovering the impact of heritage and arts initiatives? Bradford Cathedral is seeking a Project Evaluator for our Weaving Stories project.
Key Events
Monday 12th May – Friday 20th June
Launch event: Thursday 15th May
Airedale Stitchers – Our Bradford
Exhibition
This textiles exhibition will see forty works hanging from the pillars in the Cathedral, each capturing a place or feeling from the Bradford District, and styled in one of many different types of stitches.
Monday 7th July – Friday 8th August
Woven Lives
Exhibition
Woven lives is a beautiful and powerful artwork which talks of the lives and stories of the people of Bradford. The woven coloured glass and symbols, lit from within, show how light and dark times are all part of the story of community and connection.
Saturday 13th September | 12noon – 3pm
Heritage Open Day
Open Day
We celebrate the work of women in our windows and textiles.
Other Events
May
Yorkshire Heritage Way: Ripon > Bradford Pilgrimage
4-day walk
A pilgrimage taking place from Ripon to Bradford Cathedral over four days.
Friday 16th May | 7:30pm
Art of Andalucia
Flamenco evening
“ART OF ANDALUCIA” is a captivating celebration of Daniel Martinez’s exceptional artistry in the world of flamenco. This unique concert offers a full immersion into the essence of flamenco, featuring a carefully curated selection of Daniel’s most celebrated works from his discography, including his award-winning production “Art of Believing” and his latest masterpiece, “Andalucia.”
Saturday 24th May | 11am
Cathedrals Cycle Relay 2025
Cycle ride
Join us for the launch event of this year’s Cathedrals Cycle Relay. Entry into the launch is free, but please click the link below to sign-up to cycle from Bradford to Wakefield for only £10, including a participation medal.
Friday 6th and Saturday 7th June
New Music Biennial
Music event
New Music Biennial is a three-day festival celebrating the best new music across all genres from the country’s most exciting composers – and in 2025, for the first time, it’s coming to Bradford. Produced by Bradford 2025.
Saturday 14th June | 6pm
Bradford Festival Choral Society: Echoes of Eternity – Music for Choir and Strings
Music event
A beautiful night of music brought to you by the Bradford Festival Choral Society
Saturday 12th July | 7:30pm
Chordiality
Music event
Join us for the latest Chordiality concert.
Global Connections
September – December
We are a diverse and distinct place where people have come from around the world and stayed. We welcome people from all nations to call our city home and this season of work will celebrate our international links. From globally significant artworks that engage in interfaith dialogue to young people making new links across cultural divides, we are engaging in big conversations with our global family.
Events in this season to be announced soon.
Discover More
Until Summer 2025
Cathedral Timeline
Discover more about our 1,400 years of history with our on-site temporary timeline, or view our online one today! The on-site timeline is viewable until Summer 2025.
March – October 2025
Bradford Faith Trail
Come and join the hundreds of visitors who will come this year from Bradford – and well beyond it – to participate in an “open door experience” at five of Bradford’s places of worship, from Leeds Road down to Bradford Cathedral
2025
The Model of Bradford Cathedral
Starting at our Heritage Open Day in Autumn 2024, Michael Scott is creating an n-gauge size model of Bradford Cathedral. You can watch his progress videos, which mix history with how-to!
2025
Tours
You can discover more about the Cathedral with our general tours, textile tours, or stained glass tours. For more information, or to book a tour, please e-mail education@bradfordcathedral.org
Visit Us:
Opening times
Monday – Saturday 10am – 4pm
Please see our what’s on calendar for any changes.
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.