Christmas Celebrations at Westminster Abbey

I'm excited to share our experience at Westminster Abbey, where we attended two delightful Christmas events!

💞 Sung Eucharist

On the morning of December 25th, we went to the Sung Eucharist, a festive Christmas morning service. Here, most of the texts are sung rather than read, featuring the Abbey choir, an organ, and even a flute. You’re provided with a clear printed guide outlining when to stand or sit, when to say "Amen," or to join in singing.

If you wish, you can partake in communion at the end. You approach the priest in a queue, receive a blessing, and are given the Holy Communion—bread and wine from the chalice. My husband and I shared a chuckle at one point in the guide that said, “please refrain from dipping the bread in the chalice.”

Securing a good spot to see the happenings can be quite challenging, so it's best to arrive about 30-40 minutes early. Be prepared to mainly listen!

💞 Service of Lessons and Carols

This is a special Christmas service where readings from the Bible (lessons) alternate with Christmas hymns (carols). This is accompanied by the choir and organ.

There’s no communion or altar sacrament in this service, as this tradition is relatively new—it originated in 1918 after World War I and was first held at King’s College in Cambridge.

I enjoyed this event even more, as the readings included renowned individuals and public figures, not just clergy. We had notable guests such as producer and TV presenter Matt Baker, artistic director of the Royal Ballet Kevin O’Hare, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, poet Storm Cecile, the King’s private secretary Sir Clive Alderton, and a girl named Phoebe, a student from Westminster School.

In one of the carols about the birth of Jesus, there was the line:

So very poor, this was my chance,
Betwixt an ox and a very poor ass.

I can't express how hard it was to stifle my laughter as I imagined how my classmates at Moscow State University would translate this:

Poor me, this was my chance,
Somewhere in the half-butt of a poor ox.

But now I understand that "ass" also means "donkey" in old religious poetic texts!

All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience—it was truly memorable!