Virtual services, presents for hospital staff and 65,000 Christmas cards - this is how Wakefield Cathedral is celebrating Christmas

Christmas is always a busy time for the cathedral and, despite unusual circumstances, this year has been no different.

As well as offering a limited number of tickets to in-person Christmas services, staff and volunteers at the cathedral have hosted virtual service.

And they also worked with local churches to distribute more than 65,000 Christmas cards to families across the city centre, and organise a virtual display of the card to be displayed on two vans driven around the city.

Staff have also collected dozens of festive gifts for staff at Pinderfields Hospital, which were delivered by the Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Revd Tony Robinson, on Monday morning.

He said: “It has been a tough year for our nursing staff – especially during this second wave of Covid.

“They have had to work in exceptional circumstances and we don’t want their hard work to go unnoticed.

“Although we can’t ease their workload or step into their shoes, we would like to find a way to bring a little bit of joy into their workplace this Christmas season.”

Earlier this month, a cathedral chorister was also selected to take part in a fundraiser for the Rodolfus Foundation’s Choral Courses Bursary Fund, which helps young choristers across the country attend courses.

Charlie Trueman, 13, a two time finalist in BBC Two’s Young Chorister of the Year competition, was chosen to open the fundraiser with his version of Once in Royal David’s City.

The cathedral will also be lit in red and green light each evening until the end of the year, as part of a campaign to bring peace and joy to residents at an uncertain time.

Visit the Wakefield Cathedral website for a full list of services and events.