Durham Cathedral has announced that this year, the cathedral will play host to a special Christmas experience for groups as part of Durham City’s Christmas Festival.
The Christmas experience will take place on Friday 2nd December and will include an afternoon carol concert sung by the Durham Cathedral Choristers.
The choristers will perform in the Nave of Durham Cathedral, and groups will be able to witness the performers’ process up the aisle by candlelight as they entertain the audience with traditional carols and choral music.
There will also be many chances to join in with the singing.
The experience also includes the chance to explore the cathedral and a visit to the local producers’ market held in the cathedral’s historic cloister.
A few feet away on Palace Green, there will be a marquee of crafts and gifts – as part of the Durham City Christmas Festival.
New for 2016
Also new for this Christmas is Open Treasure, a new exhibition experience in the cathedral.
The experience begins in the fourteenth century Monks’ Dormitory, with interactive exhibits and activities. Groups will then continue through to the Collections Gallery, with a rolling programme of exhibits, before reaching the Great Kitchen with its octagonal ceiling.
Here, groups will discover an exhibition of church plate and metalwork, before continuing on to explore the interactive Pilgrimage Gallery and Community Gallery.
They will then return to the Medieval Cloister via the Covey.
Groups can combine their trip with a visit to the Undercroft Restaurant to sample homemade food, or the cathedral shop for a range of gifts and souvenirs.
Also on offer are catering experiences in Prior’s Hall, which was originally the Medieval dining room of the Deanery.
Booking for the Christmas experience at the cathedral is essential by emailing visits@durhamcathedral.co.uk, and for more information visit www.durhamcathedral.co.uk.