Under the heading, “BBC unpacks a ‘rich and reflective’ array of religious programming”, the Church Times has given an insight into what the Corporation is planning this Christmas.
- On Christmas Eve, BBC1 will show Carols from King’s, a pre-recorded candlelit service from the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, and the live broadcast on Radio 4 of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at 3pm GMT.
- The live broadcast of Midnight Mass from the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and the English Martyrs in Cambridge. The radio broadcast will be live from Liverpool´s Anglican Cathedral, with a sermon from the Interim Bishop, the Rt Revd Ruth Worsley
- The Christmas morning service on BBC1 will come from Bradford Cathedral, reflecting the city’s status as UK City of Culture 2025, which a BBC press release describes as “a lively family service” including “a dynamic performance of the Christmas Gospel story”!
- On Boxing Day, on Radio 4, the Bishop of Washington DC, the Most Revd Mariann Budde, who famously preached at Donald Trump’s inauguration service, is to deliver a Christmas meditation on the theme of trust, reflecting on the events of the past year, and
- On New Year’s Day, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s message will be delivered by Archbishop-designate, the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally!
So, some quite engaging broadcasts, not forgetting the annual festive Songs of Praise, ‘A Christmas Celebration From Victoria Hall, Bolton’, which will be presented by Aled Jones, who will sing “Silent Night” alongside “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” performed by the former Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley.
Tim Pemberton, Head of Religion and Ethics for BBC Radio, said: “This Christmas, BBC Radio offers a rich and reflective selection of religious programming designed to entertain, uplift, and inspire. Through thoughtful explorations of faith, music, and reflection, we hope to bring listeners moments of peace, warmth and wonder throughout the festive season.”
Read the full article, which includes more events, here.