A Service for Advent in London

Hereford Cathedral Choir will be singing in at The Guards' Chapel, London on Tuesday 1 December 2026 in a service to mark the beginning of Advent.

Since 2010, Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust has arranged an annual Advent Service in London at the Royal Military Chapel (Guards’ Chapel) at Wellington Barracks. The service opens with an Act of Remembrance of the members of the Special Air Service who have been killed in the course of their duties since the Second World War. The service then continues a sequence of Bible readings and Advent carols which point towards the coming of Jesus at Christmas.

Initially developed to celebrate the links that Hereford Cathedral has with local military groups, the service has now become a way for supporters of the cathedral, who work or live in London, to hear Hereford Cathedral Choir close to Christmas and to join in an act of Advent worship. The evening also serves as a fundraiser for the Perpetual Trust, which supports the choir and educational outreach, as well as the long-term sustainability of Hereford Cathedral’s worship, ministry and mission.

Philip Dunne, Chair Designate of Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust said: "We are delighted that this year’s Advent Service in London will be the debut for Hereford Cathedral’s new Director of Music, Andrew Reid at this special service. We are most grateful to Major General James Bowder OBE, General Officer Commanding London District and the Major General commanding the Household Division, and The Reverend Alex Bennett CF, the Senior Chaplain to the Household Division and London District, for once again extending their generous hospitality to the Perpetual Trust.

The Service for Advent in London is always a highlight of the season in which we reconnect with friends from near and far and pause to prepare ourselves just ahead of the hectic Christmas period. It’s an opportunity to share the magnificent music of Hereford Cathedral Choir with those who no longer live locally, and to introduce new people to Hereford Cathedral and the work of the Perpetual Trust."

The service takes place at the Guards’ Chapel, London, Wellington Barracks on Tuesday 1 December 2026 at 6.30pm. Advance booking is essential for this service - tickets can be requested by clicking the Book button below.

For more information, please contact the Trust Office on 01432 374 260 or the cathedral Ticket Desk on 01432 374 202.