Advent and Christmas 2023

At the heart of Christmas

The 2023 Advent and Christmas season is upon us once again, and there is no better time to pay a visit to Bath Abbey. From our special services and carols to Christmas concerts and our popular Festive Tower Tours, there truly is something for everyone. Come along to the Abbey, or our sister church St Michael’s Bath, and celebrate this special occasion with us.

Visiting

We are thrilled to be at the heart of a bustling vibrant city and feel privileged that so many people, locals and visitors alike, choose to celebrate Christmas at Bath Abbey.

Our aim is to give our Abbey visitors a meaningful and memorable encounter with the message of God’s love, coming to transform our humanity in the birth of Jesus Christ – whether you are from the other side of the world, a regular worshipper, attending a concert, or visit just once a year.

The large number of special events and services taking place in November and December means that the Abbey may be closed to visitors at certain times.

Please always check our Opening Times or with the Abbey Office before visiting.

Worshipping with us

We are delighted to welcome you for in-person worship this Advent and Christmas. A number of our services are now ticketed in order to allow as many people as possible to attend and to try to keep queues down to a minimum.

In previous years, all our tickets have been taken up. Our hope is that as all members of the Abbey community wishing to attend Christmas services are able to do so. However, we do ask for your patience and understanding as places are allocated, and suggest that you may like to obtain a maximum of 4 tickets per family, to ensure opportunity for the greatest number to be with us. Thank you so much!

Please check our Opening Times or with the Abbey Office before coming to worship outside of services.

Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Christmas.

James Tait, 14, and sister Catherine Tait, 10, play the roles of Mary and Joseph at the annual nativity play at Bath Abbey. 16 December 2012. Children were invited to come dressed as a shepherd, angel, wise man or citizen of Bethlehem to create a stunning Christmas tableau which also featured Mr Frosty the donkey. Nativity plays are a traditional right of passage for children in the UK with most schools and churches retelling the story of the birth of Jesus in the days before Christmas.

Ticketed services

Our Advent Carol Services and Festival of Nine Lessons & Carol services are ticketed. Due to demand, we run two of each service, one at 5pm and one at 7.15pm. Tickets are limited to 4 per household.

Advent Carol Service on Sunday 3 December

Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols on Saturday 23 December

Bath Christmas Market by night

Advent and Christmas at Bath Abbey

The Abbey will at times be closed for services and events. Please check our opening times for any closures before your visit.

Download our 'Services & Worship' PDF for a handy printable guide to the Advent and Christmas season at Bath Abbey.

Download our Advent and Christmas 'Visiting' PDF for more information about our festive offerings at the Abbey this winter.

Bath Abbey Choirs present…

 

Bath Baroque Christmas

 

Reviews from Caritas the choirs’ last recording:

A record of a choir at the peak of its powers’ CMQ  - the Royal School of Church Music’s magazine

I expected to like this disc; reader, I loved it’. ‘Choir and Organ’ magazine

Available now from the Abbey Shop.

 

Listen to our choirs on Spotify.

White line drawing of Bath Abbey on festive red background

Bath Abbey Music Society 2024 Calendar

Looking for a Christmas present to last the year?

Still struggling to find something special for the music lover in your life?

Then look no further, because our 2024 calendar is the perfect gift!

Full of colourful, never-before-seen photos of our choirs, our Bath Abbey Music Society calendar is available now from the Abbey Shop.

Get yours now while stocks last.

Abbey Shop opening times can be found on our homepage here.

New Year Concert – A Ceremony of Carols 2024

Acclaimed Bath Abbey Girls’ Choir sing Benjamin Britten’s masterpiece, accompanied by harp.

As part of Candlemas, in January we celebrate Epiphany, the time when the wise men from distant lands brought gifts to the baby Jesus in the stable at Bethlehem.

Welcome the New Year with a magical evening of enchanting music sung by the acclaimed Bath Abbey Girls’ Choir. Music includes Benjamin Britten’s masterpiece, A Ceremony of Carols and John Rutter’s Tomorrow shall be my dancing day accompanied by beautiful sounds of the harp.

It's the perfect Christmas gift to enjoy together.

Order tickets.

Bath Abbey Christmas 2023

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