Christmas Eve Midnight Mass

A special late night service sharing in the anticipation of the joy of Christmas and celebrating its message of good news.

By long-standing tradition, we begin our 11:30pm service of Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, Thursday 24th December, by singing the beautiful Austrian carol Silent Night which was first heard on Christmas Eve some two hundred years ago in the village church of Oberndorf.

It sets the tone of the service perfectly: the stillness of the dark night, and the sense of expectation, as we prepare for the wonder and the mystery of the birth of Christ two thousand years ago.

Admission

This service is open to all, ticketless and free to attend. No registration is required. The service lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Music

The communion setting is Mozart’s Missa Brevis in D, K194 completed in 1774 when he was 18 and written for Salzburg Cathedral.

Music after communion will include O magnum mysterium by the French composer Francis Poulenc which ably demonstrates the unique sound of his choral writing. The anthem is one of a set of four exquisite short Christmas motets; it evokes the profound mystery of the nativity, first witnessed not by men but by the stable animals looking on.

Support St Bride’s

There will be a retiring collection at the end of the service to support the work, ministry and music-making of St Bride’s and help maintain our magnificent Wren church.

St Bride’s is wholly reliant on and deeply grateful for the generous support of our visitors and congregation.

Donations can be made by cash or contactless at church or via JustGiving.

Do please Gift Aid your donation if you are eligible which generates an extra 25p in every £1 donated.

Additional Information

Directions to St Bride’s Church and information about accessibility are available on our Visit Us page.