December at Westminster Abbey

In December we celebrate the sacred season of Advent with lots of services and events – visiting Westminster Abbey at Christmas time is truly special.

Read on to find out about what’s happening at the Abbey in the month of December – we’re looking forward to welcoming you!

With our very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year,
The Marketing Team

PLAN YOUR VISIT NOW

Becoming a synodal Church, a call to foster ecumenism

Location: Online
Date: Monday, 4th December
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Tickets: Free (registration required)

In this Koinonia lecture, Sister Nathalie will reflect on the Synod of the Catholic Church, ‘For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission’, its themes, its potential, and its call to the whole Church.

About the speaker

Sister Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ is a French Catholic religious sister and member of the Institut La Xavière Missionnaire de Christ Jésus. On 6 February 2021, she was appointed by Pope Francis as Undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, Rome the first woman to hold such a position in the Catholic Church.
A renowned lecturer and speaker, she is the author of numerous publications on synodality and synods, young people and youth ministry, vocations and religious life, the Church and mission.
She was named one of the 100 most influential and inspiring women of 2022 by the BBC, and one of the 50 over 50 list published by Forbes for Europe, the Middle East and Africa 2023

Ticketing information

To book your place, please email rsvp@westminster-abbey.org.
Please include the email address you’ll be using to access the seminar.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

Sermon Series: Noble Army of Martyrs

Location: The Abbey
Date: 10th September – 17th December
Time: 3:00pm
Tickets: Free
Above the Abbey’s Great West Door stand ten statues to 20th-century Christian martyrs.

This autumn, to mark the 25th anniversary of their installation, a sermon series, ‘The Noble Army of Martyrs’, will focus on the lives of those depicted, their ongoing resonance, and legacy for the Church.

These sermons will be preached during Choral Evensong in the Abbey at 3:00pm on Sundays throughout the autumn. No booking is required.

About the Modern Martyrs

The ten martyrs whose statues stand above the Abbey’s Great West Door are drawn from every continent and many Christian denominations and represent all who have been oppressed or persecuted for their faith.
Among them are victims of Nazism, communism, and religious and racial prejudice in the 20th century. Their statues were unveiled on 9th July 1998 in the presence of the late HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

Family Day: Christmas at the Abbey

Location: The Abbey
Date: Saturday, 9th December
Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm
Tickets: Free (no booking required)
Kickstart your Christmas season by singing carols with the Abbey’s world-famous choir and take part in lots more festive fun.

Celebrate Christmas with us in this special day stuffed with festive fun.

Christmas crafts

Create and decorate a Christmas wreath to decorate a special door in your home.

Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm

Carol Sing-a-long with the Choir

Join the world-famous Westminster Abbey choristers to sing a few festive carols in the beautiful Chapter House.

Time: 12:00pm – 12:30pm

Storytelling

Snuggle up as a family and listen to some warming winter tales from Olivia Armstrong, a storyteller for the season.

Time: 12:30pm – 1:00pm

How to enter and visiting the Abbey

Entry is via Dean’s Yard. Most activities will take place in the Cloisters and Chapter House.
Visiting the Abbey will not be possible until midday, but if you would like to do so in the afternoon, please book an entry ticket. You will have the option to upgrade your ticket into a membership which allows unlimited free entry to the Abbey and the Galleries and much more interesting perks, for 12 consecutive months.

Age suitability

Activities are suitable for children aged 3+ and younger children are welcome. All children must be accompanied by an adult throughout their time at the Abbey.

Toilets and baby changing facilities are available in the Cloisters.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

Handel’s Messiah

Date: Tuesday, 5th December
Time: 7:00pm – 9:30pm
Location: The Abbey
Tickets: £15 – £55
A seasonal performance of Handel’s much-loved oratorio Messiah.
Performers

The Choir of Westminster Abbey
Academy of Ancient Music
Robin Blaze countertenor
Mark Dobell tenor
Tom Butler baritone
Andrew Nethsingha conductor

Tickets

Reserved seating – £55, £45, £36
Restricted view (unreserved) – £28
Very restricted view – £22
No view (unreserved) – £15

There is a £3.00 transaction fee.

Timings

Doors open at 6.15pm and the concert will begin at 7.00pm.
There will be an interval of 20 minutes and the performance will end at around 9.30pm.
Latecomers will be admitted but may not be able to occupy their allocated seats until a suitable break in the performance.

Access and security

Entry to Westminster Abbey is via the Great West Door
Your bag will be searched and we ask you not to bring any large items with you (for example suitcases, large backpacks or folding bicycles) as these will not be allowed inside and we are unable to store them for you.

Filming and photography

Please note that photography, filming and sound recording are not permitted at Abbey concerts.

Christmas Concert

Date: Wednesday, 20th December
Time: 7:00pm – 8:20pm
Location: The Abbey
Tickets: £15 – £45
A feast of seasonal music from the Choir of Westminster Abbey.
Performers

The Choir of Westminster Abbey
Peter Holder – organ
Anne Denholm – harp
Andrew Nethsingha – conductor
Tickets

Reserved seating – £45, £36, £30
Restricted view – £25
Very restricted view – £20
No view (unreserved) – £15

There is a £3.00 transaction fee.
Timings.

Doors open at 6.15pm and the concert will begin at 7.00pm.
There will be no interval and the performance will end at around 8.20pm
Latecomers will be admitted but may not be able to occupy their allocated seats until a suitable break in the performance.

Access and security

Entry to Westminster Abbey is via the Great West Door
Your bag will be searched and we ask you not to bring any large items with you (for example suitcases, large backpacks or folding bicycles) as these will not be allowed inside and we are unable to store them for you.

Filming and photography

Please note that photography, filming and sound recording are not permitted at Abbey concerts.

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE

Christmas Services at Westminster Abbey

Celebrate the Christmas Story with us at the Abbey. All our services are free, but some require a ticket. Click on the button below to visit our website and find out more.
ADVENT LITURGY
Sunday 3rd December, 4:00pm – 5:00pm

A dramatic, candle-lit service of hymns, readings, and anthems sung by the Abbey Choir.
This service will be reflecting upon the Advent themes of judgement and of the joyful expectation of the coming of Christ.

SUNG EUCHARIST OF CHRISTMAS NIGHT
Sunday 24th December, 11:00pm -12:30am

The quintessential, late-night service celebrating the birth of Christ, the Light of the World, in the midst of darkness.
First Eucharist of Christmas night includes the singing of Christmas Carols, music from the Abbey Choir, a sermon and Holy Communion.

SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS
Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th December, 4:00pm – 5:00pm

A traditional service including the singing of Christmas carols.
There will also be readings as well as anthems sung by the Abbey Choir.

HOLY COMMUNION
Monday 25th December, 8:00am – 8:40am

This quiet, said service is in traditional language, according to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.
Holy Scriptures are read, prayers are offered, and bread and wine are consecrated and received as the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

SUNG EUCHARIST
Monday 25th December, 10:30am – 11:30am

The main service to celebrate Christmas morning, and the appearing of Jesus as Emmanuel – ‘God with us’.
This Eucharist includes the singing of Christmas Carols, music from the Abbey Choir, a sermon and Holy Communion.

EVENSONG
Monday 25th December, 3:00pm – 4:00pm

This service follows the traditional pattern in The Book of Common Prayer.
Our Christmas Day Evensong will consist of choral music (psalms, canticles, and anthems) from the rich Anglican musical tradition, scripture readings, and prayers.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

Notre Dame de Paris, The Augmented Exhibition

Date: 7th February – 1st June 2024
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Location: Chapter House
Tickets: Free (booking required)
Immerse yourself in the history and spectacle of Notre Dame de Paris in the UK’s only location for this world touring interactive exhibition.

About the exhibition
Explore the story of the French gothic masterpiece, Notre Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris) from its earliest origins in the 12th century and its illustrious 850-year history to its painstaking restoration following the devastating fire of 2019.

This exhibition is an immersive and interactive journey through Notre Dame’s past including the lavish wedding of King Henri IV, the glittering coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte, and the 19th century construction of Notre-Dame’s iconic spire of Viollet-le-Duc, which was tragically destroyed by the fire. The skill, artistry and vision over the ages of its architects, craftsmen and builders, and the 21st century experts who are bringing it back to its former glory are brought to life in the show.

Upon entry you will be given a HistoPad™—a portable, touch-screen tablet to show you key moments in Notre-Dame’s history and restoration. Accessible to all ages and levels of technological savvy, it is in 13 languages and includes a virtual treasure hunt for children, and onboard selfie studio.

The HistoPad™ tour will take place in the Abbey’s 13th century Chapter House and envelope you in a multi-sensory experience—including audio of the cathedral’s organ and tolling bells, a full-size replica of one of the structure’s famed chimera statues, and a projection of one of Notre-Dame’s iconic rose windows, which survived the fire.

Created by digital heritage specialists, Histovery, in collaboration with Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris, and supported by L’Oréal Groupe.

Ticketing information

The exhibition is free and timed booking slots will open on 1st December.

Fraternité season
This exhibition is part of Fraternité, a spring season of events at the Abbey celebrating the links between the UK and France with music, talks and events. More details announced soon.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

GIVE THE GIFT OF MEMBERSHIP THIS CHRISTMAS

From just £55 you can treat friends and family to year-long free entry to the Abbey and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, access to special Members’ events, discounts and much more.

Connect with over 1,000 years of history and give the gift of Association membership to someone you love this Christmas.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

DID YOU KNOW…?

Thomas Thirlby (c.1500-1570) was consecrated the first and only Bishop of the new short-lived diocese of Westminster in December 1540 (created once the Benedictine monastery of Westminster Abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII).
No memorial exists for him in the Abbey but his supposed coat of arms appears in modern glass in the Chapter House (it seems that these were actually the arms of Thorley and had mistakenly been assigned to Thomas by an earlier writer). He died at Lambeth Palace on 26 August 1570 and was buried in the parish church nearby.
He was born in Cambridge, a son of John, town clerk, and his wife Joan (Campion). His early patrons were said to have been Anne Boleyn’s family. Some of the other posts he held were rector of Ribchester in Lancashire, chaplain to Henry VIII, archdeacon of Ely, prebendary of Salisbury cathedral, canon of St Stephen’s Westminster and Dean of the Chapel Royal. He was also a counsellor of State and resident ambassador to the Imperial Court of Emperor Charles V. In 1550 the diocese of Westminster was dissolved and Thirlby became Bishop of Norwich and then of Ely.

SHOP

This detailed nativity scene would be the perfect addition to any home this Christmas. The scene features the holy family, three kings, a shepherd, an angel and animals all within a wooden stable. The figures are painted resin and are fixed in place.

VISIT OUR SHOP ONLINE

FREE SUNDAY ORGAN RECITALS

Sundays throughout the year

Held on Sundays at 5.00pm, these popular 30-minute recitals are given by visiting and the Abbey’s own organists and feature a wide range of music to suit all tastes.

Admission is free, tickets are not required.

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