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 Christmas in London 2009: Carols & Services
 
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 There are few better ways to get into a festive mood than singing carols around the Christmas tree or in one of London's famous churches and cathedrals. To make sure you know when and where to go this Yule, read our feature on all the best carol services and concerts in the capital - including the popular Midnight Masses at St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christmas in London 2009: Related Articles  Shows & Pantos | Ice Skating | Carols & Services | Christmas Trees | Markets & Fairs | Christmas Day & Boxing Day | New Year's Eve | Christmas Lights | Hotel Hideaways   St Paul's Christmas Carols & Services
St Paul's Cathedral, EC4M 8AD 29th November 2009 - 27th December 2009 Few places are better for traditional Christmas services and carols than St Paul's, the spiritual home of Great Britain. To meet the increasing demand, this year St Paul's hosts a series of concerts throughout the month of December peaking with the excessively popular Midnight Mass service and carol concert. St Christopher Wren's great dome, which dominates much of the City, fills with the sound of the Cathedral Choir for a large part of the month and the most special services and concerts are free and available to all. The cathedral formed the centrepiece of the reconstruction of London after the Great Fire of 1666 and miraculously went on to survive the Blitz in World War Two when most of the surrounding area was flattened by German bombing raids. It consequently acted as an inspirational symbol of British strength in the nation's darkest hour and is now an icon of resurrection and rebirth - a potent symbol of all that is associated with Christmas. Full programme Sun 29 & Mon 30 Nov, 6pm: The Advent Procession Thurs 3 Dec, 6.30pm: Handel's Messiah Wed 9 Dec, 7pm: Breast Cancer Care Carol Service Fri 11 Dec, 6.30pm: Sankta Lucia Sat 12 Dec, 5 pm: Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten Tues 15 Dec, 6.30pm: Celebration of Christmas Sat 19 Dec, 1pm: Family Carols Sun 20 Dec, 6pm: Messiaen's La Nativite du Seigneur Wed 23 Dec, 4pm: Christmas Carol Service Thurs 24 Dec, Christmas Eve, 4pm: Christmas Carol Service Thurs 24 Dec, Christmas Eve, 11.30pm: Midnight Eucharist Fri 25 Dec, Christmas Day, 8am: Holy Communion Fri 25 Dec, Christmas Day, 11am: Sung Eucharist Fri 25 Dec, Christmas Day, 3.15pm: Festal Evensong Sat 26 Dec, 5pm: Music and Readings for Christmas Sun 27 Dec, 10.15am: Choral Mattins Sun 27 Dec, 11.30am: Sung Eucharist Sun 27 Dec, 3.15pm: Choral Evensong Venue: St Paul's Cathedral Address: St Paul's Churchyard, EC4M 8AD Phone: 020 7236 4128 Date: 29th November 2009 - 27th December 2009 Time: Various times Pricing: FREE Nearest Station: St Paul's Tube St Paul's Christmas Carols & Services 2009 - Information  Southwark Cathedral Carols & Services
Southwark Cathedral, SE1 9DA 29th November 2009 - 25th December 2009 Southwark Cathedral's popular candlelit carol services take place on the Sunday and Tuesday before Christmas but there are a host of other festive services open to the public throughout December. For the Cathedral Carol Service, the bulk of the singing is done by the boys, girls and men of the Cathedral Choir. The congregation will get a chance to join in and sing some of their favourites while the festive music will be interspersed with readings taken from St Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus. Located besides the wonderfully odoriferous Borough Market, Southwark Cathedral has gained something of a cult status in recent years following a peculiar incident involving its bishop, Dr Tom Butler, in 2006. Following a Christmas drinks event at the Irish Embassy, the eccentric bishop was found, allegedly tipsy, in the back of a silver Mercedes, throwing children's toys out of the window. Rumours that he was filling his sack for his cathedral's Christmas tree were, of course, firmly denied - but it did get people talking about the church in the build up to Christmas, that's for sure. Full programme Sun 29 Nov, 6.30pm: Cathedral Advent Procession Wed 2 Dec, 5.30pm: Choral Evensong (lighting of the tree) Sat 12 Dec, 6.30pm: Annual Crisis Carol Service Tue 15 Dec, 7pm: GLA Carol Service Wed 16 Dec, 12.45pm: Cathedral Sing-In Sun 20 Dec, 6.30pm: Cathedral Carol Service Tue 22 Dec, 6.30pm: Cathedral Carol Service Thu 24 Dec, Christmas Eve, 11.30pm: Midnight Mass Fri 25 Dec, Christmas Day, 9am: Eucharist with Carols Fri 25 Dec, Christmas Day, 11am: Choral Eucharist Venue: Southwark Cathedral Address: London Bridge, SE1 9DA Phone: 020 7367 6700 Date: 29th November 2009 - 25th December 2009 Time: Various times Pricing: FREE Nearest Station: London Bridge Tube Southwark Cathedral Carols & Services - Information  St Martin-in-the-Fields Christmas Carols & Services
St Martin-in-the-Fields, WC2N 4JJ 29th November 2009 - 25th December 2009 St Martin-in-the-Fields is a perfect venue for any kind of service or concert - especially when candlelit on a cold winter's night - but it is really quite extraordinary in the festive period when it comes into its own with a generous dollop of Christmas carols. Located almost in the shadow of the towering Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree, St Martin-in-the-Fields offers a seasonal glow throughout December with a range of services and carols that would get even Scrooge singing O Come, All Ye Faithful! Full programme Sun 29 Nov, 6.30pm: Advent Carol Service Thu 3 Dec, 6.30pm: Lighting of the Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square Sun 6 Dec, 2.30pm: Salvation Army Carol Service Sun 6 Dec, 5.30pm: Blessing of the Crib in Trafalgar Square Sun 6 Dec, 6.30pm: Advent Taize Tue 8 Dec, 6.15pm: Evelina Family Trust Carols Wed 9 Dec, 7pm: Transport for London Festival of Carols Sun 13 Dec, 6.30pm: Advent Meditation Mon 14 Dec, 7.00pm: Livability Carols Tue 15 Dec, 7.00pm: Friends of Columbia Carols Wed 15 Dec, 6.30pm: Royal Commonwealth Society Carols Sun 20 Dec, 6.30pm: Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Mon 21 Dec, 6.30pm: Community Carols Thu 24 Dec, Christmas Eve, 2.30pm: Crib Family Service Thu 24 Dec, Christmas Eve, 2.30pm: 6.30pm: Parish Carol Service Thu 24 Dec, Christmas Eve, 2.30pm: 11.30pm: Midnight Mass Fri 25 Dec, Christmas Day, 10.30am: Eucharist Fri 25 Dec, Christmas Day, 2.15pm: Communion Service in Mandarin and Cantonese Venue: St Martin-in-the-Fields Address: Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ Phone: 020 7766 1100 Date: 29th November 2009 - 25th December 2009 Time: Various times Nearest Station: Charing Cross Tube St Martin-in-the-Fields Christmas Carols & Services - Information  Carol Singing in Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DS 7th December 2009 - 22nd December 2009 The traditional charity carol singing programme returns to Trafalgar Square this year with different groups of up to 15 people performing one-hour slots on a raised platform by the square's Christmas tree, raising money for a range of voluntary or charitable organisations. This year there will be two weeks of carols, taking place in the evenings, generally from 5pm to 9pm. All the places have been booked well in advance but passers-by are welcome to come and listen to the carols in the square - and even join in. Other Christmas events in Trafalgar Square include the lighting of the Christmas tree on Thursday 3rd December and the blessing of the crib on Sunday 6th December. Venue: Trafalgar Square Address: Central London, WC2N 5DS Phone: 020 7983 4750 Date: 7th December 2009 - 22nd December 2009 Time: 5pm-9pm Pricing: FREE Nearest Station: Charing Cross Tube Carol Singing in Trafalgar Square - Information  Classics for Christmas
Southbank Centre: Royal Festival Hall, SE1 8XX Saturday 12th December 2009 The Southbank's Classics for Christmas concert at Royal Festival Hall features works by the likes of Berlioz, Bach, Mozart and Tchaikovsky, performed by the Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra in period dress and presented by Raymond Gubbay. Get into the festive swing also with a range of carols, such as Good King Wenceslas, The First Nowell, O Come, all ye faithful, The Twelve Days of Christmas and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. For more information go to www.southbankcentre.co.uk. Venue: Southbank Centre: Royal Festival Hall Address: Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Phone: 08716 632 501 Date: Saturday 12th December 2009 Time: 7.30pm Pricing: £13-£39.50 Nearest Station: Waterloo Tube / Rail Classics for Christmas - Information  Canary Wharf Carols & Candles Service
East Wintergarden, E14 5AB Tuesday 15th December 2009 With bankers' bonuses set to increase again despite this year's recession, you'd expect the workers of Canary Wharf to have a modicum of goodwill to spread this season so this could be a good one for the diary. Members of the public are invited to join a choir made up of Canary Wharf tenants - including HSBC, FSA and Morgan Stanley - for the annual candlelit carol service at the East Wintergarden. It's the highlight of the Canary Wharf festive season - which also includes the popular ice rink - and there are no expenses spared with a post-service supply of mince pies and mulled wine on offer following the traditional seasonal song sing-along. This year the Carols & Candles Service is supporting the charities Plan and Place2Be. Venue: East Wintergarden Address: 43 Bank Street, E14 5AB Phone: 020 7418 2725 Date: Tuesday 15th December 2009 Time: 5.30pm Pricing: FREE Nearest Station: West India Quay DLR Canary Wharf Carols & Candles Service - Information  Christmas Carols at Temple Church
Temple Church, EC4Y 7HL 16th December 2009 - 20th December 2009 If the renowned author Dan Brown staggered through the vaulted archway of any grand London place of worship to sing carols this Christmas, it would surely be the Temple Church, between Fleet Street and the Thames. The Temple Church was built by the Knights Templar - made famous by Brown's The Da Vinci Code - and was used in the filming of the subsequent movie, starring Tom Hanks as the forty-year-old Professor Robert Langdon with the arrestingly deep voice, and the strong, carefree smile of a collegiate athlete (who had a haunting phobia of enclosed spaces). Jokes (and best-selling literary assassins) aside, the Temple Church's three carol services are a true delight and will certainly get you in the mood for Christmas celebrations. Located in a picturesque courtyard between the Middle and Inner Temples, the famously round church is a popular spot for carol singing so be sure to arrive in good time - not just so you can amble around the nearby squares and gardens, but so you can grab a seat in the nave with a good view of the choir. Venue: Temple Church Address: Inner Temple, Fleet Street, EC4Y 7HL Phone: 020 7353 8559 Date: 16th December 2009 - 20th December 2009 Time: Wed 16 Dec 6pm, Fri 18 Dec 1.10pm & Sun 20 Dec 11.15am Nearest Tube: Temple Tube Christmas Carols at Temple Church - Information  Carols by Candlelight
Royal Albert Hall, SW7 2AP 19th December 2009 - 24th December 2009 The climax of the Royal Albert Hall's Christmas carols programme is this dimly lit traditional Christmas celebration, Carols by Candlelight, mixing sing-a-long carols with readings from Dickens (A Christmas Carol) and the Bible (The Birth of the Infant Jesus). The name is a bit of a cheat - there are no actual candles lighting the hall, just a 'candle-lit style setting' - but the performers are all in eighteenth century costume, and the hall splendidly decorated to create a thoroughly festive atmosphere. Expect all the Christmas classics from the Christmas sequence from Handel's Messiah to a rousing Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Check www.royalalberthall.com for full details. Performances: Sat 19 Dec - 8pm Sun 20 Dec - 8pm Wed 23 Dec - 7.30pm Thurs 24 Dec - 2.30pm & 7pm The Royal Albert Hall also hosts a flurry of other Christmas concerts, including: Christmas Carols with the Stars: Thu 10 Dec - 7.30pm John Rutter's Christmas Celebration: Sat 12 Dec - 3pm & 7.30pm Christmas Carol Singalong: Sun 13 Dec - 2.30pm, Thu 17 Dec - 2.30pm, Sat 19 Dec - 1.30pm & 4.45pm, Mon 21 Dec - 2.30pm Royal Choral Society Christmas Carols: Mon 14 Dec - 7.30pm The BT Christmas Concert: Tue 15 Dec - 7.30pm The Glory of Christmas: Wed 16 Dec - 7.30pm Classic Carols: Thu 17 Dec - 7.30pm King's College Choir Christmas Music & Carols: Mon 21 Dec - 7.30pm Venue: Royal Albert Hall Address: Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP Phone: 020 7589 3203 Date: 19th December 2009 - 24th December 2009 Time: 19 & 20 Dec 8pm, 23 Dec 7.30pm, 24 Dec 2.30pm & 7pm Pricing: £11.50-£42.50 | Christmas Eve Matinee £11-£37.50 Nearest Station: South Kensington Tube Carols by Candlelight - Information  Midnight Mass at St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, EC4M 8AD 24th December 2009 Built by Sir Christopher Wren after the fire, St Paul's is viewed by many as the spiritual home of Great Britain. It's also a very popular place to experience the more traditional side of Christmas and escape the mad rush that threatens to overtake us all as December 25th approaches. Demand is so great that St Paul's puts on a series of Christmas celebrations throughout December but the high point has to be the Midnight Mass service. The cathedral's famous dome, which peaks over the top of London's skyline from miles around, fills with the soaring sounds of the Cathedral Choir. In candlelit, majestic surroundings in the middle of the city this is the perfect place to usher in Christmas Day before wrapping up warm and making your way home through the magically deserted streets. Venue: St Paul's Cathedral Address: St Paul's Churchyard, EC4M 8AD Phone: 020 7236 4128 Date: 24th December 2009 Time: Thu 11.30pm-12am Pricing: Free Nearest Station: St Paul's Tube Midnight Mass at St Paul's Cathedral - Information  Westminster Abbey Midnight Mass, Christmas Carols & Services
Westminster Abbey, SW1P 3PA 24th & 25th December 2009 Pack inside one of London's most famous landmarks for an old-fashioned service to take you right through to Christmas Day. Westminster Abbey has been at the centre of royal and religious life in Britain since the time of William the Conqueror who was crowned here on Christmas Day 1066, following the successful Norman invasion of the British Isles. It's easy to lose sight of what Christmas is all about in the sea of commercialisation, but sat in the majestic history of the Abbey's nave will help remind you of the religious message. These awe-inspiring surroundings provide a striking backdrop for an evening of lessons and carols. There are services at the Abbey at: Thu 24 Dec, Christmas Eve, 4pm & 11.30pm Fri 25 Dec, Christmas Day, 10.30am & 3pm Check www.westminster-abbey.org for a list of all other Advent services in the lead up to Christmas. Venue: Westminster Abbey Address: Dean's Yard, SW1P 3PA Phone: 020 7222 5152 Date: 24th & 25th December 2009 Time: Mon to Sat 9.30am-3.30pm | Open Sundays for services Pricing: FREE Nearest Tube: Westminster / St James's Park Tube Westminster Abbey Midnight Mass, Christmas Carols & Services - Information |
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