Busy festive season at Southwell Minster

Carol concerts, a Christingle service and a Christmas trail for children are among highlights of a busy festive season at Southwell Minster.

The trail, God’s Special Gift, is available until early January and encourages visitors to tour the minster looking for images that tell the Christmas story.

On Friday, the Girl Choristers perform Britten’s A Ceremony Of Carols at 12.15pm.

This is followed at 7pm by the Framework Housing Association Carol Service.

Cantamus Girls’ Choir performs its Heralding Christmas Concert on Saturday at 7.30pm.

The next day is the candle-lit Christingle service at 5pm, which will raise money for the Children’s Society.

At 7.30pm the Girl Choristers will perform Christmas music in the Great Hall of the Archbishop’s Palace. Tickets are available from the Minster Centre.

On Thursday, December 14 at 7.30pm, Southwell Minster Choir Association presents Handel’s Messiah, sung by the Minster Chorale. Tickets are available from the Cathedral Shop.

Carols For Everyone, a community concert organised by Southwell and District Lions Club, is on Saturday, December 16, at 7.30pm. Tickets are again available from the Cathedral Shop.

On December 17, the minster hosts Messiaen’s La Nativité du Seigneur at 6.30pm, played on the organ by the assistant director of music at the minster, Simon Hogan. There will be short reflections by Canon Jacqui Jones.

The Minster School performs its Christ-mas concert on Monday, December 18 at 7pm.

On Friday, December 22 at 7.30pm, Southwell Festival Voices presents A Christmas Celebration — a concert of seasonal words and music.