Posted on: 27th November 2025

On Thursday 25th December 2025, Bradford Cathedral will host BBC One’s Christmas Day service, broadcast live across the UK.

The service will be a joyful celebration of the birth of Christ, weaving together carols, readings, and prayers from across cultures and languages. It will be led by Revd Henriette Howarth, Minor Canon for Congregational Life and The Very Revd Andy Bowerman, Dean of Bradford, will preach. Revd Canon Ned Lunn, Canon for Intercultural Mission and the Arts, will perform the Gospel reading and there will be multilingual participation woven throughout the liturgy, including the Lord’s Prayer spoken in languages from across the Cathedral’s diverse worshipping community.

The Choir of Bradford Cathedral, under the direction of Geoffrey Woollatt, Organist and Director of Music, will lead the congregation in well-loved Christmas carols such as O Come, All Ye Faithful and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. The choir’s anthems and Jonathan Dove’s Missa Brevis will evoke both the timeless beauty and the contemporary vitality of Christmas worship at Bradford Cathedral. William Campbell, Sub-Organist and Assistant Director of Music, will be playing the organ.

The Revd Ned Lunn, Canon for Intercultural Mission and the Arts, says, ‘We invite you to join us in the Cathedral or at home for our Christmas Day service where we hope to close this year as UK City of Culture showing the world how we celebrate this festive season in Bradford. It will include all the ingredients that will make that unique Bradford flavour. Rooted in the ancient story of Jesus which has been proclaimed on this site for 1,400 years, we will show how, with a pinch of contemporary and global touches, this story of God's hospitality crosses cultural and linguistic differences. Come for a proper Bradford Christmas!’

Please note the start time of 10am, which is earlier than the usual 10:30am start time for Sunday services at Bradford Cathedral. The congregation is advised to arrive early - the doors will be open at 8.45am, please be seated for 9.30am. The broadcast will begin at 10am.

To help Bradford Cathedral offer the fullest welcome for what will be a joyful and busy Christmas morning, anyone who hopes to attend in person is requested to register their intention to come. This is to allow the Cathedral to prepare well, and to let people know in good time if the building will be at maximum capacity. No one is discouraged from attending, and registration is not a ticket. Whether in the Cathedral or via the BBC broadcast, Bradford Cathedral looks forward to celebrating Christmas with you. 

You can confirm that you plan to attend in person on Christmas Day either by speaking to a member of the Clergy at any of the Cathedral’s services, or by emailing info@bradfordcathedral.org or calling 01274 777720 (Phone line monitored Monday - Thursday 10am- 2:45pm).