Lincoln Cathedral has announced it will hold a second Christmas Carol Concert to give more people the chance to join in with popular carols led by the Cathedral organist and choir, listen to readings and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.
The Cathedral’s popular 4pm Christmas Eve Carol Service is always oversubscribed and many of those that are able to find a seat often find that they miss some elements of the service.
To address this the Cathedral has announced an additional new service on Monday 23 December. It will be identical to the service on 24 December with the same carols and readings but will mean that more people can enjoy the special atmosphere of the Cathedral at Christmas.
The Revd Canon Sal McDougall, Precentor of Lincoln, said, “It is always wonderful to see the Cathedral completely full with people celebrating and enjoying worship, but we know that it can be difficult to find a seat at the Christmas Eve Carol Service and that because the whole Cathedral is so full, many people often miss parts of the service. By adding a second Carol Service on 23 December it allows more people than ever to join in with this annual Christmas tradition.”
She added that it is hoped that people who have previously felt unable to come to the Christmas Eve service will now be able to attend.
“We often hear that people want to join us on Christmas Eve, but know how busy the service is and don’t want to risk not being able to find a seat. The service on Monday 23 December is an opportunity for those people to join us and have a wonderful experience,” she said.
It’s also a chance for people that have other commitments on Christmas Eve to come to the Cathedral as part of their Christmas celebrations. “We know lots of people that live in the city travel to other parts of the country to be with family over the festive period, so we hope that those who will be travelling on Christmas Eve will now also be able to visit the Cathedral and start their Christmas with us.”
Family crib service
Also new for this year is a family Crib Service which will take place on Christmas Eve at 10.30am.
Aimed at families with young children, this short 30-minute service will take place around the crib and tell the Christmas story, with plenty of chance for everyone to get involved.
Children coming to the service are invited to dress up as characters from the Christmas story – sheep, kings, angels, shepherds, Mary and Joseph – and they will be encouraged to interact as the story unfolds. With popular carols, this is a relaxed and fun opportunity for our youngest visitors and their families to enjoy Christmas in the Cathedral.
Lincoln Cathedral’s Christmas Carol Services take place at 4pm on Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 December. It is recommended to arrive early to find a seat. For a full list of services taking place at Lincoln Cathedral over Advent and Christmas, please visit the Cathedral website – https://lincolncathedral.com/forthcoming-events/
