Bradford Cathedral has been confirmed as the location for BBC One’s Christmas Day service on Thursday 25 December 2025, celebrating Bradford’s year as the UK’s City of Culture. The service will be broadcast live nationwide and will feature a vibrant mix of carols, readings, and prayers that reflect the city’s rich cultural diversity. The focus key phrase Bradford Cathedral BBC Christmas service captures the significance of both the location and the festive broadcast.
The service will be led by Revd Henriette Howarth, Minor Canon for Congregational Life, with a sermon delivered by The Very Revd Andy Bowerman, Dean of Bradford. Revd Canon Ned Lunn, Canon for Intercultural Mission and the Arts, will perform the Gospel reading, and the liturgy will include multilingual elements, such as the Lord’s Prayer in languages spoken across the Cathedral’s diverse worshipping community.
The Choir of Bradford Cathedral, directed by Geoffrey Woollatt, Organist and Director of Music, will lead congregational singing of traditional carols including O Come, All Ye Faithful and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, alongside choral anthems and Jonathan Dove’s Missa Brevis. William Campbell, Sub-Organist and Assistant Director of Music, will perform on the organ, adding to the service’s blend of timeless tradition and contemporary vitality.
Revd Ned Lunn invited the public to join the celebration in person or via broadcast, saying: “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… with a pinch of contemporary and global touches.”
The service will start at 10am, earlier than the usual Sunday service, with doors opening at 8:45am and seating available from 9:30am. Attendees are asked to register their intention to attend in person, either via email or phone, to help the Cathedral prepare for a busy morning, although registration is not required to attend.
Bradford Cathedral, the city’s oldest place of worship, sits in tranquil gardens and offers visitors a rich historical and cultural experience, including Morris & Co textiles, stained glass, and monuments marking Bradford’s heritage. Recognised with multiple awards including Welcome to Yorkshire’s Small Visitor Attraction of the Year 2020 and Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award 2024, the Cathedral continues to be a focal point for faith, culture, and community events.
