Midnight Mass from St Chad’s Cathedral

BBC One is to broadcast the first Mass of Christmas from St Chad’s Cathedral, Mother Church of the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, at 11.45pm on Christmas Eve. This is the second time in recent years the BBC has filmed the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at St Chad’s, having last broadcast it in 2016.

The BBC says of the programme, ‘Celebrate the traditional first Mass of Christmas with a joyful service live from St Chad’s Cathedral in the heart of Birmingham. The Dean of St Chad’s, Monsignor Timothy Menezes, will welcome us with a message of hope, and the prayers will be led by young people from the congregation. The celebrant and preacher will be the Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Revd Bernard Longley. Music will include the well-loved carols ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’, ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.’ Music Director David Saint will lead the cathedral choir in compositions spanning 500 years, from the Christmas motet Tui sunt caeli by 16th composer Orlando Lassus, to Richard Causton’s haunting 21st century ‘Cradle Song.’

Mgr Timothy Menezes, Dean of St Chad’s, is delighted that the BBC is returning to the Cathedral, saying, ‘This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the first Mass of Christmas in the company of a television audience. It will be a very special occasion for the Cathedral and the Archdiocese of Birmingham. The cathedral team are working hard on a very special festive programme and it will be a highlight of the season. For all those people who are unable to get to Mass in person this Christmas you are warmly invited to join us via your television.’

For more information, visit THIS WEBPAGE. For more information about St Chad’s Cathedral, click HERE.