WATCH LIVING NATIVITY AT PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL

Peterborough Cathedral’s staging a ‘Living Nativity’ on Monday December 23 bringing the Christmas story to life.

Look out for Roman soldiers at the Norman Arch which leads from the Peterborough city centre into the Cathedral. They will be ordering passers by to ‘go to Bethlehem’ to be taxed, at the start of a Living Nativity re-enactment in the Cathedral Precincts, at 10.30am and again at 2pm.

With three Roman soldiers, two donkeys, Mary and Joseph, Gabriel, Herod, shepherds, kings and an innkeeper, all in costume, this will be a lively, family-friendly re-telling of the Christmas story.

You’re invited to gather at the Norman Arch, whatever the weather, and follow the action as the story unfolds outdoors, crossing the Cathedral Green and ending in the Cloisters. There’ll be a narrator, carols for the congregation to sing and a star to follow.

Volunteers from the Cathedral community have been busy making costumes and props for the occasion, and the main parts in the story will also be played by volunteers. The Year 3-5 Cathedral Choristers will form a ‘a choir of angels’.

The two donkeys, Jolly Joules and Dicky Mint, are coming from Sacrewell Farm with the people who look after them. They do not often travel away from the Farm so there’s always the possibility that they may decide not to get into the horsebox on the day!

So get wrapped up, grab a brolly and wear your comfy shoes as even if the weather is very wet the event will go ahead anyway, starting at the Norman Arch but then heading straight into the shelter of the Cathedral.

It’s expected that the Living Nativity will last around 45 minutes. There’s no need to book and no charge, although donations will be invited.

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