Christmas church services in London

There was a story this week about about Catholic churches across Britain starting the traditional Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve a few hours early this year because of the problem of drunks rolling out of the pub and into the church, disrupting proceedings and people trying to enjoy the service.

Its a shame if some idiots can’t hold their drink and spoil this part of Christmas for others but I can believe it happens. If you’re looking for a location in central London to take part in a Christmas service some of the city’s most famous churches have ones open to everyone offering spectacular settings for taking part in the religious meaning of Christmas. Here are some of the main ones.

Westminster Abbey
24 December Christmas Eve
7.30am Morning Prayer St Faith’s Chapel
8am Holy Communion Nave
12.30pm Holy Communion St Margaret’s Church
3.30pm Evening Prayer St Faith’s Chapel
4pm Service of Lessons and Carols Quire
11.30pm First Eucharist of Christmas Quire
11.45pm First Eucharist of Christmas and Blessing of the Crib

25 December Christmas Day
7.30am Morning Prayer St Faith’s Chapel
8am Holy Communion Nave
10.30am Festal Eucharist Quire
11am Festival Matins of Christmas Day St Margaret’s Church
12.15pm Holy Communion St Margaret’s Church
3pm Festal Evensong Quire

Westminster Cathedral (Roman Catholic)
24 December Christmas Eve
Mass at 07.00, 08.00, 10.30 (Latin),
12.30, 13.05
7.40am Morning Prayer
4pm* Solemn FirstVespers of
Christmas
6pm Vigil Mass with Carols
Confessions 9.30-3.30pm
Cathedral closes briefly after the 6pm Mass.
11.30pm* Vigil and Midnight Mass

25 December Christmas Day
8am Mass
9am Sung Mass with Carols
10am Morning Prayer (Sung)
10.30am* Solemn Mass
12pm Sung Mass with Carols
3.30pm* SolemnVespers and Benediction
There are no Confessions today, nor 5.30pm or 7pm Mass.
Cathedral closes after 3.30pm Vespers.

St Paul’s Cathedral
24 December Christmas Eve
7.30am Mattins
8am Holy Communion
12.30pm Holy Communion
1.30pm Last admission into Cathedral & Crypt for sightseeing
4pm Christmas Carol Service sung by the Cathedral Choir
11.30pm Midnight Eucharist

25 December Christmas Day
8am Holy Communion Book of Common Prayer
8.30am No sightseeing today - services only
8.45am Mattins (said)
11am Choral Eucharist
3.15pm Festal Evensong

St Martin-in-the-Fields
24 December Christmas Eve
8am Morning Prayer
2.30pm Crib Service
6.30pm Parish Carols
11.30pm Midnight Mass

25 December Christmas Day
8am Morning Prayer
10.30am Eucharist

Southwark Cathedral
24 December Christmas Eve
9am Morning Prayer
9.15am Eucharist
4pm Building the Crib Service (suitable for children)
5.30pm Evening Prayer
11.30pm Midnight Mass - Preacher:The Bishop of Southwark

25 December Christmas Day
8.45am Morning Prayer
9am Eucharist with Carols
11am Choral Eucharist
(The Cathedral will close at 1.00 pm)