From carol services and concerts to Christingles and comedy, here at Leicester Cathedral we are offering a varied season to help you celebrate Christmas with your friends and loved ones – and to experience something of the stillness, hope, and love that is in God, in the Christ Child, and the gift each one of us can hold.

Leicester Cathedral warmly welcomes regular worshippers and new visitors alike to participate in our services and events.

The Very Revd Karen Rooms, Dean of Leicester, said

"We warmly welcome you to Leicester Cathedral, where we are offering a variety of services and events to help you celebrate Christmas with loved ones.

"The most wonderful experience for me this year was holding a tiny three-month-old baby girl in my arms in a busy café – holding her brought a stillness of heart, a rush of love, and a glimpse of hope and the future.

"In all that we offer in this beautiful space, my prayer is that you will experience something of that same stillness, hope, and love that is in God, in the Christ Child, and the gift each one of us can hold."

Experience the mystery

Our Advent and Christmas services, along with our regular pattern of services, are free of charge to attend, and everyone is welcome.

Beginning with the Advent Carol Service on Sunday 1 December at 4.30pm, we mark services throughout December – including our Global Carol Service celebrating Christmas from different traditions around the world. Meanwhile, the traditional Cathedral Carol Services of readings, carols, and beautiful music sung by the Cathedral Choir take place on Sunday 22 (4.30pm) and Monday 23 December (6.00pm).

Midnight Mass marks the beginning of Christmas at 11.30pm on Tuesday 24 December, followed by the Christmas Day Eucharist celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, at 10.30am.

Hear world-class music

Music is the language of the soul – from concerts to reflective meditations, we have a diverse programme including the Leicester Symphony Orchestra, Mediæval Bæbes, the annual LOROS Christmas Concert, and the ever-popular Leicester Cathedral Choir Carol Concerts by Candlelight, surrounded by real candlelight in the final resting place of King Richard III.

Join us a special Late Night Opening on Thursday 5 December, where you can take time out to visit after hours and enjoy a moment of peace for free – with craft activities, festive refreshments, and music sung by the Coro Nostro Chamber Choir.

Festive fun for all the family

The Christingle Service returns on Saturday 14 December at 3.00pm – an interactive service in aid of The Children's Society where all ages can create their own Christingle and learn about its meaning, the Christmas story, and sing some carols!

All are welcome to help build the Cathedral Crib at the family friendly Crib Service on Christmas Eve at 3.00pm, where we enter the mystery and joy of Christmas together with carols and music.

Whoever you are and whatever you face, we invite you to come with open eyes, ears, and hearts as we look forward to and celebrate stillness, hope, and love through the arrival of Jesus Christ.

The full programme of all our services and events can be found on the Cathedral website: www.leicestercathedral.org/christmas