The service is led by the Dean, Canon Matthew Habron, with Deacon Joseph Cortis and readers all drawn from one family of Cathedral parishioners: the Cowells – David, Yvette, Philippa, and Joseph.
The Cowell Family in rehearsals
Yvette tells the story of St Francis of Assisi’s institution of the first ever ‘live’ Nativity in the C13th and David reads contemporary excerpts from a Christmas Homily given by Cardinal Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Joseph reads Frances Chesterton’s 1917 poem, ‘How Far is it to Bethlehem’
Philippa reads the poem ‘A Christmas Carol’ by GK Chesterton
The Senior Boys, Girls and Choral Scholars of Leeds Cathedral Choir lead the congregation in favourite traditional carols and some superb seasonal choral pieces, conducted by Thomas Leech and accompanied on the Cathedral’s magnificent Klais organ by Benjamin Newlove.
The service was pre-recorded in early December – and will be transmitted at 7am on Christmas Morning, and then available on BBC Sounds for 28 days afterwards.
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