St Edmundsbury – The Longest Night

St Edmundsbury Cathedral will open its doors to offer comfort and hope and a refuge for all for whom Christmas is a difficult time.

The Longest Night – comfort and hope on the Winter Solstice at St Edmundsbury Cathedral

St Edmundsbury Cathedral will open its doors to offer comfort and hope and a refuge for all for whom Christmas is a difficult time.

The cathedral’s Longest Night service will take place this Sunday (19 Dec) – the Sunday closest to the Winter Solstice – with music, carols and quiet reflection aimed to support and remember those for whom Christmas will be difficult.

It will be followed by five nights of prayer, livestreamed, keeping watch over all who need it at this challenging time.

Cathedral Curate, Revd Sarah Geileskey, said:

“The traditional image of the Christmas period is of a happy time, full of love and laughter, yet the truths at the heart of the nativity story include painful challenges arising from issues of migration, homelessness, political power and the pressure of cultural norms. 

“These truths resonate in our world today as we deal with bereavement, divorce or separation, cope with the loss of a job, face financial problems or live with a long term illness.’

Service is at 5pm. The prayers will be livestreamed daily at 9pm on the Cathedral’s Facebook page.

This annual service is always held on the Sunday closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year.