Lichfield Cathedral gets ready for an exciting Christmas
We're getting ready for our busiest and most exciting time of the year, Christmas!
With the Cathedral undergoing a major relighting and rewiring project, we're working hard to deliver a wonderful programme of events with as little disruption to festive proceedings as possible. There will be a few significant changes to the programme, including the carol service traditionally held on Boxing Day, the Christmas Market, and a new community service to replace ‘Songs for a City’.
‘The Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols’, more commonly known as the Lichfield Cathedral Carol Service, has traditionally been held on two nights, one of which being Boxing Day. This year, however, the services will take place at 18.00 on Sunday 20 and Christmas Eve. ‘The Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols’ tells the story of Christmas through readings and song.
The Cathedral’s new community service, ‘Christmas Time in The City’, supported by Keelys Solicitors and Tempest Ford, is a service for local businesses and community groups. It will take place at 18.00 on Tuesday 8 December, and is an opportunity for the city of Lichfield to come together and sing Christmas carols, enjoy some wine and panettone, and network with other businesses.
Last year the Cathedral welcomed 9,000 visitors to its Festive Food and Gift Fair. Owing to the works being done in the Cathedral, this year’s event will take the form of an outdoor Georgian Christmas Market. The Cathedral has teamed up with Erasmus Darwin House to bring the market to The Close. It will take place on Saturday 12 December, Erasmus Darwin’s birthday. Visitors can mingle with Georgian characters, and enjoy stalls packed with homemade gift ideas, festive treats, delicious food, and fun children’s activities including a Christmas Pudding Trail.
New to the Cathedral Christmas Programme are two Christmas Library Tours on the 12 and 16 December. The library, a hidden gem within the Cathedral, will be candlelit and decorated for the festive season. Visitors will be able to view a decorated 13th century Justinian Codex, beautifully illuminated early 15th century tracts, and a manuscript containing signatures of Charles I. Tickets for the tours are available from the Shop at No.9.
‘To be a Light’, will take place on Sunday 6 December, and visitors can enjoy beautiful music performed by the Cathedral Choir, a fun-filled Lantern Parade, and the lighting of the magnificent Cathedral Christmas Tree.
The Christmas Tree Festival will move locations this year when the Cathedral transepts will be transformed into forests of Christmas Trees. The trees will be beautifully embellished by local schools, groups and businesses. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase tokens to vote for their favourite tree. The Christmas Tree Festival will run from 7-20 December.
Regular favourites including the Lichfield Cathedral Chorus, Lichfield Chamber Choir, Staffordshire Band, Salvation Army and St Giles’ Light up a Life, will also be returning for another year.
Following on from the success of last year’s toy appeal, the Cathedral will once again be partnering with Staffordshire charity, The Gingerbread Centre. The charity provides support and accommodation to vulnerable and homeless families throughout the area, and has been helping people for over 35 years. The Cathedral is appealing for toys suitable for children of all ages which will be presented to the charity at the two Shoppers’ Carols & Toy Appeal services at 12.00 and 16.00 on Saturday 19 December. For those who are unable to attend the services, gifts suitable for ages 0-18 years will be gladly received in advance (from 09.00-17.00, Monday to Friday) at the Cathedral Reception in The Old Stables.
Luxmaralis and acclaimed artist Peter Walker will be lighting up the west front of the Cathedral with a series of stunning projections. ‘A Cathedral Illuminated – A Christmas Special’ will take place on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 December, 17.00 – 21.00.
The Family Crib Service, at 15.00 on Christmas Eve, will be a highlight of the season, as families dressed as characters from the nativity story descend on the Cathedral.
The Dean of Lichfield, the Very Rev’d Adrian Dorber says: “There are some exciting changes to the Advent and Christmas programme this year. Our Cathedral Carol Services are perennial favourites and we hope to see both new and familiar faces at these events on the 20 December and Christmas Eve. Whilst we anticipate there may be some disruption to the Cathedral due to the works, the warmth of our welcome will be unaffected, and we look forward to seeing our visitors this Christmas.”
You can download our Christmas What's On leaflet here.