Ripon Cathedral has attracted huge numbers over the Christmas period. with thousands of people attending its festive services.
The combined attendance at the Festival of Lessons and Carols held over two evenings on Saturday and Sunday, was in excess of 3,000 and the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd John Dobson, told the Stray Ferret:
“It is the busiest I have ever seen the Cathedral. It was pleasing to see so many local residents and people from the wider region celebrating Christmas with us.”
He added:
“To cater for the huge demand, we had to provide additional seating down both the outer aisles and behind the altar. “
The cathedral has been packed for services throughout the Christmas season.
Midnight Mass, which started at 11pm on Sunday night, saw 500 in attendance and a similar number attended the Festal Eucharist Service on Christmas Day morning, led by the Bishop of Leeds the Rt. Revd Nick Baines.
The Bishop, who also gave the sermon, spoke of Christmas and Christ’s birth bringing light into the darkness that the world faces through ongoing conflicts affecting millions of people.
From serious situations to the more light-hearted, he brought laughter from the congregation when he talked about daring to wear a Christmas jumper.
Cathedral choir praised
Among the many highlights of the choir’s performances over the Christmas weekend,, was their stunning rendition of the traditional sacred Scandinavian song Gaudete, dating back to 1582 and remembered by some attendees as a 1970s hit record for the folk group Steeleye Span,
The work of the choir and the cathedral’s director of music Dr Ronny Krippner, was praised by Dean John, before a long-line of young choristers queued in single file to receive their Christmas pay – a £2 coin apiece!
The Dean quipped:
“We have so many choristers that the queue almost reaches back all the way to the Royal Oak on Kirkgate!”
A tradition was maintained when the choristers gave an apple to each member of the congregation as a Christmas gift from the cathedral.
Among the recipients was the Bishop, seen in the main image with Dean John and canons Claire Renshaw and Matthew Pollard.
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