Liverpool Cathedral expands Christmas offerings to cater for increasing numbers of visitors

Liverpool Cathedral is anticipating a large turnout at its Christmas events (Photo: Liverpool Cathedral)

Liverpool Cathedral is laying on more services and activities this Christmas to meet an increase in demand.

The cathedral is just one of many enjoying a swell in the number of people attending over the Christmas season.

It is one of the busiest seasons of the year for the cathedral, which welcomed more than 4,000 people through its doors on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 2017 - a ten per cent increase on the previous year.

It will be running two 'Carols for Christmas Eve' services after being filled to capacity last year.

The Very Reverend Dr Sue Jones, Dean of Liverpool said: 'Last Christmas Eve it was standing room only as our afternoon carol service was so popular. People were joking about having no room at the inn, liking it to the Christmas story.

'We are the spiritual heartbeat for so many and Christmas is a natural opportunity for people to reconnect and rediscover the Christmas story.'

The cathedral will also be putting on a performance of the nativity, 'Hurry to Bethlehem', featuring 200 children from the Merseyside area.

Recent figures from the Church of England show a significant increase in the number of people attending cathedral services, particularly over Christmas.

Liverpool Cathedral has welcomed nearly 400,000 visitors since May 2018, with over 60,000 people coming to see Luke Jerram's artwork installation, Museum of the Moon, in one week in May.

In total, Church of England cathedrals welcomed 135,000 people to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services in 2017 - up three per cent on 2016 figures.

Dr Jones added: 'It's really heartening to see cathedrals showing such signs of growth and this is reflected at our own Cathedral.'

Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
Churches urged to help address UK fostering shortage
Churches urged to help address UK fostering shortage

Christian charities Home for Good and Safe Families UK are calling on churches across Britain to play a greater role in supporting vulnerable children.

Christians urge UN to keep human rights spotlight on Eritrea
Christians urge UN to keep human rights spotlight on Eritrea

Eritrea is sometimes called the "North Korea of Africa".

Many churches unconcerned about food ethics, survey suggests
Many churches unconcerned about food ethics, survey suggests

A survey conducted on behalf of environmental charity Green Christian has suggested that only a minority of churches take into account ethical concerns when serving food and drink.

Calls for investigation into disappearance of Protestant missionary in southern Mexico
Calls for investigation into disappearance of Protestant missionary in southern Mexico

The 79-year-old Protestant missionary has been missing for more than six weeks.