Christmas at St Paul's Cathedral
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ธ.ค. 2018
- This film goes behind the scenes at St Paul's Cathedral for their most magical time of year - Christmas. What is it like for the people who make the magic happen, and how do they cater for the 45,000 visitors that come through the cathedral's doors during the festive season?
Rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London destroyed its predecessor, St Paul's Cathedral is known as the nation's church and has become an iconic symbol of London - home to the royal wedding of Charles and Diana, Winston Churchill's funeral and the Queen's 90th birthday service. Every Christmas, the cathedral puts on a magnificent array of 17 special services and concerts, from the Advent Procession to carol concerts, Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day itself. This programme watches as the spectacular events of the festive season unfold and goes behind the scenes as the Christmas trees are winched into place and the golden copes are repaired. From the clergy to the choirboys, the show discovers the gargantuan efforts that go into making Christmas happen at St Paul's and meet the dedicated people who turn these traditions into a reality.
The film introduces Canon Michael Hampel, a member of Chapter (the cathedral's governing body) and the man tasked with running Christmas at St Paul's. From the Advent Procession to the big service on Christmas Day, it is Canon Michael's responsibility to make sure every event in the St Paul's festive calendar is the best it can be. With a background in amateur dramatics, stage management comes naturally to Canon Michael. Central to the festivities are director of music Andrew Carwood and the 30 choristers that make up the cathedral's world-famous choir. The choristers board at the cathedral school, starting at seven years old and finishing around 13 when their voices start to change. They include 12-year-old Benjamin, who will be spending his last Christmas at St Paul's and hopes to sing the big Christmas solo.
Father James Milne was once a choirboy at Edinburgh Cathedral and is now a minor canon and the sacrist at St Paul's. His tasks this Christmas include finding the celebrities who will read at the Celebration of Christmas concert. Despite his busy schedule, he still finds time for his model train collection. Esther Anstice is one of the cathedral's virgers - the stage managers who make everything go smoothly behind the scenes. From counting wafers to hanging up vestments, distributing service papers to preparing candles, there is no task a virger won't do. Esther is also passionate about the history of St Paul's, revealing her personal collection of historic postcards of the building. Alongside the clergy, virgers and choristers, the show also meets other members of the cathedral's 150-strong staff who keep Christmas on the road, including the 'works' team, who haul three Christmas trees gifted by the Crown Estate into position and assemble the crib scene. In the bell tower are the Broderers, a team of volunteer seamstresses who repair the historic garments worn in services, and a team of flower arrangers put together the Advent wreath. The film also meets the refugees from the cathedral's affiliate charity, the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants, and Phyllis Bankale, one of the cathedral's longest-serving worshippers, who comes from Nigeria and has been visiting the cathedral since 1956.
The first big event in the St Paul's Christmas calendar is the Advent Procession, in which the congregation is plunged into darkness and a candlelit procession with 100 schoolchildren gradually brings light into the cathedral. It is a dramatic service - but it poses particular logistical challenges for the team organising it. The glitziest carol service at St Paul's is the Celebration of Christmas. With an orchestra, celebrity readers and over 2,000 guests, this is a major event for the team. There are celebrities to book, and just one chorister will be chosen to sing the prestigious Once in Royal David's City solo.
Midnight Mass takes place on Christmas Eve. It is a massive logistical undertaking as the cathedral staff need to ensure there are enough wafers and wine to cater for over 1,000 people expecting to receive communion during the service. It is also a challenge for the cathedral's choristers, who are up well past their bedtimes. The big Christmas Day service is the jewel in the crown of the cathedral's Christmas celebrations. On Christmas Day alone, over 10,000 people will pass across the St Paul's threshold, and the service is expected to be of the highest standard. After the service is complete, the 100 staff members that work on Christmas Day have well and truly earned themselves a rest.
Anglicanism is beautiful. Happy Holidays and greetings from the Bahamas🇧🇸
I wept at my first visit of this cathedral two weeks ago. It was an over whelming experience
Smoke & mirrors.
Ik roman catholic and I watched this video until the end. So much beauty and reverence that these poeple have so much put into Christmas day and how they present Christian Faith to secular UK. Thank you my brothers and sisters. Deus Vult!
I'm a Roman Catholic priest and I'm also admired about the enthusiasm and joy our Anglican sisters and brothers put into Christmas preparation.
@@TheFab905 bless me father for I have sinned!
@@blueblazerable call the office and book three or four hours for a confession
@@TheFab905 im from Philippines Father it's impossible for me to go to Europe/USA for your confession. The last time I went to confession was during my first communion (Year 2004)
@@blueblazerable come on!
In the Philippines ther’re a lot of catholic priests: if you want a priest, isn’t complicated to find one.
Is only a question of will.
I absolutely loved this Documentary. So calming, charming and wonderful. what an amazing team of people. The vicar is right, we will be having a party in heaven!
Church in europe are beautiful..memory how religion was strong hundred years ago..
A CHRISTMAS JOY that makes the yuletide more redeeming. Thank you, Nick Road.
I'd love to come there some day. Sunday High Mass (or Eucharist) and Evensong at St. Paul's--and Westminster Abbey--are right on top of my to-do list if I make it to London!
The Catholic #WestminsterCathedral is also very worth a visit.
A Clark oh yes-how could I forget?
If you can only do one make it St Paul's. Westminster is nowhere near as impressive
Perfect treble soloist sound in the Ceremony of Carols!!!
I was particularly fascinated by the part where the copes are brought out - i was a People's Warden in a very small Anglican parish in Canada 25 years ago and the parish priest earned money for the parish by making copes - I remember him using gold thread.
Absolutely beautiful and so much effort put in by so many people... Beautifully narrated by Sarah Lancashire x
wonderfully produced video. St Paul's has become an amazing place compared to the religious museum it was when I visited in the early 1970s. Just wonderful. THANKS for posting this..
A lovely program and it is nice to see that some of traditional Anglicanism survives - though Christmas Day is not the end of Christmas but the start
TheRenaissanceman65 I grew up in a low to broad church parish but detail to ritual was more important than is sadly uncommon and today
And the fact that Jesus was born in April, not December.
@@robertandhollyscorpiofan2697 We don't actually know when for a certainty. The December date was chosen to counter the pagan holiday of the solstice and replace it with a different kind of joy and celebration. Scientifically measured dates were less important that pragmatic reality.
@@notlimey While i will not give names, every minister i’ve asked, and biblical scholars i’ve heard, have said Jesus was born in April, not December.
You don’t want to trust that, that’s on you.
@@robertandhollyscorpiofan2697 Guestimates - I am a professional historian and without clear documentary and archaeological evidence, any date is an educated guess.
WOW
Nice preparations at Saint Paul's Cathedral !!!
I lived in London between 1997-2003, & although I'm a Catholic Christian, I regularly attended Evensong & Christmas Carol at this very Anglican cathedral. To me St Paul's represents what's best about London, England, & UK in general.
So exquisite. It might be March, but with everything going on in the world right now this is such a gorgeous balm and comfort for the spirit. Thank-you for this wonderful peep and introduction into the lovely folks who run St. Paul's. Warmth from Canada. x
This is a wondrous sharing of the life of all those who work so tirelessly at giving others the magic and mystery of Christmas. I've watched this video at least twice and no doubt will watch again and again. Thank you BBC.
We were blessed with tickets for this year's concert. I am excited to share this moment in a beautiful house, to be surrounded with beautiful spirituality and music. This year has been a tough one for my family, friends, and me. God willing, I will give thanks for the grace we've received, for the gifts of one another. Happy holidays everyone.
Utterly sublime.
Merry Merry Christmas ⛄❤️
I had the joy of visiting St. Paul's in September. We arrived in time for Choral Evensong and it was lovely. The building is beautiful beyond description and should be a "must-do" to any visitor to London. What rather surprised me was at the end of the service. We were repeatedly told quite abruptly that the Cathedral was closed and we had to get out. To be literally chased out diminished the experience I was so looking forward to.
Given the behavior of some of the pre-Covid tourists (mostly non-churchgoers) and the need for security in today's terrorist security environment, getting the public out fast and completely is an unfortunate necessity. Yes, even if it seems rude.
Did it not occur to you the staff might want to go home? Was this video evidence enough of how hard they work. You should have arrived earlier to be able to look around and paid the entry fee. Choral evensong is just that...you don't get to look around afterwards.
@@Nofurtherquestions writing from America.
I was working at a retail store on Thanksgiving Day, MANY years ago.
A youngish man came through my register line and very politely said, “why are you here? why aren’t you with your family?”
I tried to be as polite when i said, “I”m here because you are here. I would MUCH rather be with my family.”
He took a second to think about that, then contritely said, “I’m REALLY sorry you are here.”
MERCI beaucoup Nick ! I am so happy to see all the works done for that important moment of the year. Can i make a special request for your vidéos ? I will be very happy if you put the icon for the automatic subtitles for all people around the world having English as Second language ! Thanks … Prayers in Koinonia and big kisses of gratitude from Gatineau, QUÉBEC, Canada. XOX
Praise the Lord Jesus.
Praise the LORD to everyone.
Wow, I knew this looked like something from a movie I knew.
Amen
Good luck 👟❤️
🙌💗🙌
Send him 5 Daniel thank you. Got that.
And At Paul's has an iconic sound peal of bells.
Yes not modern the tuning but to me the sound of London
Also the largest Bourdon bell Inthe UK which I have seen twice
Once in 63 when it was rung manually and again in 2000 thanks to Jim Phillips a member of the ASCvY and a member of the At Paul's band
th-cam.com/video/YislE_cMs9g/w-d-xo.html
55:01 what is that song?
Dr.Who1980 Productions Sir Christèmas by William Mathias
@@denhamk THANK YOU!
2. The iss I took that personally is it already Christmas?
What’s the name of the song played at the start? Sounds like from a choir.. 🤔
Carol of the bells
th-cam.com/video/yfPCxCua0xY/w-d-xo.html
Carol of the Bells
5 Daniel sagt what about the Persia? Ene mene u par sin for what?
There's this thing... called... an organist... (you never mentioned...???)
Exactly! I was waiting for the segment on the organist. And maybe the tuning of the organ?? Surely you tune the organ in preparation for such an event. And this preparation video leaves this out? What a colossal disappointment.
@@mannfan12 and the organists practice a LOT... more then sometimes even the choir... sad
@@Highinsight7 Indeed. Sad. Just sad.
@@mannfan12 The organ at St Paul's is only tuned periodically. There is no real need for tuning before a major service unless there is something obviously wrong. Also due to very efficient heating system in St Paul's the temperature is kept at a constant level which is good news especially for the reed pipes and tongues. I agree though they could have covered the role of the organ team, not sure why they did this.
@TheRenaissanceman65 BUT... it dosen't mean they couldn't show a little bit of the organists... even just a peep at them practicing... THEY accompany EVERY hymn and almost ALL the anthems.... and there's prelude and postlude music that's EXCLUSIVELY them... this was an educational show FIRST and FOERMOST... most folks would have found it fascinating, if it was presented in such a manor...
TV Europe!
What religion is this cathedral
@TheRenaissanceman65 "In the middle" is NOT homosexual priests and is NOT female priestesses. Anglican/Episcopal is far left these days. NOT "in the middle".
@TheRenaissanceman65 Apparently you are ignorant of the schisms going on in Episcopalian vs. Anglican churches here and in England.
Stop living in Anglicanism's best of times under Henry VIII.
The denomination is a complete mess.
@TheRenaissanceman65 If you knew all about them, then you would not have been so foolish as to think you could lie and get away with it.
@TheRenaissanceman65 lol. Theologically speaking, you said nothing.
1- Explain the difference between the Episcopalian church and the Anglican church in America (ACNA). The ACNA schismed from the Episcopalians and the Anglican Church of England. WHA WERE THE BIBLICAL ISSUES OVER WHICH THEY SCHISMED?
2-The Archbishop of Canterbury then threw the ACNA out of the Angland Church of England. OVER WHAT BIBLICAL ISSUES WAS THE ACNA THROWN OUT?
3- The ACNA churches and the Episcopalians have been involved in lawsuits over who owns the churches- the ACNA or the Episcopalians. WHY ARE THEY BATTLING EACH OTHER IN COURT?
4-Then justify and explain the 40+ years of child abuse at the feeder elementary and high schools of The National Cathedral(!!!) in Washington, DC which was exposed in June '19.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEDOPHILE ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE?
@TheRenaissanceman65 Ignorance is never bliss.
You have NO idea what the answers are to my questions, do you?
YOU haven't understood a word I said.
Half of these songs and programs I've never even heard of. I thought America and Britain had a very culturally similar Christmas, but I guess not.
It depends if you compare among Anglican denominant churches are all the same e.g. Christ Church in Canada, UK, Thailand are quite similar
my brother, I suppose that depends on the kind of church you attend.
Thought this would be the actual church service. Disappointed it's not.
Same here LOL
dd I spot a woman in the adult voices of the choir?!!
wow. not this year.
Be careful of Stokes. Ambivalence offered.
To let the king troll sentinel glob?
music starts at 10:39 :)
God's you're for God's? Since when?
Gbya
PS my more means still hungry to your trolls
Queen Elisabeth Xmas message World togeter Holy Family protect our Queen our Pope Francis our 🤩 World from 🦠 virus Leaders around hearth and Nature Happy New Year Québec Canada ccgl & twin👯♂️☘️
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