Midnight Mass

Live from Blackburn Cathedral, the traditional celebration of the first Mass of Christmas and the Blessing of the Crib. The music is led by Blackburn Cathedral Chorus, with traditional favourites such as Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day and On Christmas Night All Christians Sing, as well as a new arrangement of a traditional Ukrainian carol, Deepest Wonder, set to a Ukrainian folk tune. The eucharist setting is taken from French composer Louis Vierne's dramatic Messe Solennelle.

The choir will be joined by a congregation from Blackburn's diverse community, which, along with nearby Darwen, forms one of Lancashire's largest population centres. Favourite congregational carols include Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Come All Ye Faithful and Of the Father's Love Begotten.

Set in the heart of Blackburn's town centre, the modern gothic splendour of the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary the Virgin with St Paul stands on a site that has been used for Christian worship for over 1,300 years.

The dean of Blackburn, the Most Rev Peter Howell-Jones, will preside and introduce the service, while the preacher is the bishop of Burnley, the Rt Rev Philip North. The director of music is John Robinson.