Get ready for a magical evening filled with festive music and readings at the beautiful Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford.
Meet our special guests
Our special guests will give uplifting festive readings throughout the concert.
Mary Berry
Dame Mary Berry is one of the UK’s best loved cookery writers and television personalities.
Mary has written over eighty cookery books and is known worldwide for her role as a judge on Best Home Cook and The Great British Bake Off.
Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons is an Academy and Golden Globe Award winning actor who has starred in many films, including The French Lieutenant’s Woman and House of Gucci. His TV highlights include Brideshead Revisited and Elizabeth I.
Clare Mackintosh
Clare Mackintosh is a former police officer and the Sunday Times bestselling author of eight novels. Her memoir, I Promise it Won’t Always Hurt Like This, explores her experiences of grief following the deaths of her father and her five-week-old son.
Meet our musical performers
Frideswide Voices
The girls’ choir of Christ Church Cathedral. Made up of 25 girls from across the city and county, the choir sings Evensong every Wednesday and on selected weekends, as well as at special services and events throughout the year. The girls are regularly invited to sing in churches and chapels across Oxford and have recently toured abroad.
Out of the Blue
All-male a cappella group from the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes. The student-run group have supported Helen & Douglas House for many years and focus on covers of pop and rock hits.
Yayi Tian
A classical pianist, Yayi has performed across Europe, Asia, and the US, and has won major international piano competitions. She is currently completing her Doctor of Music at the Guildhall School in London under the mentorship of Alex Soares and Noriko Ogawa.
The Helen & Douglas House Singers
This informal singing group is made up of members of our nursing and care team, fundraising and marketing staff, and volunteers who are slotting rehearsals in around their busy working lives at the hospice. They are led by volunteer choir master Anne Andrew, who supports this event, as well as our annual Remembrance Services for families, and accompanied by ‘Piano Paul’, who leads weekly music sessions at the hospice for the children.
Get ready for a magical evening filled with festive music and readings at the beautiful Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford.
Join us on Monday, 24th November 2025, for a night to remember. Bring your friends and family along to enjoy the enchanting atmosphere and uplifting performances.
Featuring readings from renowned cookery writer and broadcaster Mary Berry, award-winning actor Jeremy Irons and Sunday Times best-selling author, Clare Mackintosh.
Our musical performers include professional choir Frideswide Voices, internationally acclaimed a cappella group Out of the Blue, and classical pianist Yayi Tian.
Let’s celebrate the most wonderful time of the year together at this special event. See you there!
Meet our special guests
Mary Berry
Dame Mary Berry is one of the UK’s best loved cookery writers and television personalities.
Mary has written over eighty cookery books and is known worldwide for her role as a judge on Best Home Cook and The Great British Bake Off.
Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons is an Academy and Golden Globe Award winning actor who has starred in many films, including The French Lieutenant’s Woman and House of Gucci. His TV highlights include Brideshead Revisited and Elizabeth I.
Clare Mackintosh
Clare Mackintosh is a former police officer and the Sunday Times bestselling author of eight novels. Her memoir, I Promise it Won’t Always Hurt Like This, explores her experiences of grief following the deaths of her father and her five-week-old son.
Meet our musical performers
Frideswide Voices
The girls’ choir of Christ Church Cathedral. Made up of 25 girls from across the city and county, the choir sings Evensong every Wednesday and on selected weekends, as well as at special services and events throughout the year. The girls are regularly invited to sing in churches and chapels across Oxford and have recently toured abroad.
Out of the Blue
All-male a cappella group from the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes. The student-run group have supported Helen & Douglas House for many years and focus on covers of pop and rock hits.
Yayi Tian
A classical pianist, Yayi has performed across Europe, Asia, and the US, and has won major international piano competitions. She is currently completing her Doctor of Music at the Guildhall School in London under the mentorship of Alex Soares and Noriko Ogawa.
The Helen & Douglas House Singers
This informal singing group brings together members of our nursing and care team, fundraising and marketing staff, and volunteers, who all fit rehearsals in around their busy working lives at the hospice. They are led by volunteer choir master Anne Andrew, who also supports our annual Remembrance Services for families, and accompanied by ‘Piano Paul’, who leads weekly music sessions at the hospice for the children.
Additional Information
Seating Plan
Gold and silver seating have the better views of the performance areas and are reserved seating areas.
The red seating areas show general admission unreserved seating areas.
Due to the architecture of the ancient building, views may be restricted in some areas but large screens are available so you can still watch as well as listen to performances.
Event Timings
Doors will open at 19.20. The concert will start at 20.00 and is expected to end at around 21.30. There will be no interval.
Refreshments
You can pre-book drinks when buying your tickets for collection on arrival from the entrance. A small selection of alcoholic and soft drinks will be available to purchase before the concert which can be taken to your seats. No red drinks (red wine, mulled wine, etc) are permitted in the Cathedral.
Christmas Cards & Raffle
Christmas Cards
There will be a selection of Helen & Douglas House-branded Christmas cards for sale in the foyer before and after the concert, as well as Christmas tree decorations and other festive items handmade by our wonderful crafting volunteers.
Raffle
Enter our raffle to win one of three luxury prizes. Raffle tickets will be available to purchase on the night, before the concert starts. Winners will be drawn during the concert and announced towards the end of the concert.
All proceeds from the sale of Christmas cards, raffle tickets and other items will go to the hospice.
Travel to Christ Church
Christ Church is located on St Aldates, an easy walk of no more than a few minutes from Oxford city centre. There is no parking on site. Entrance to the concert is via Tom Gate.
For further information on travel options please visit the Christ Church website.
Accessibility
We welcome advance notice of any special requirements of visitors with disabilities. Level access for visitors is through Tom Gate. There is a ramp leading to the level paved paths around Tom Quad. It is also adjacent to the Blue Badge parking spaces on St Aldates.
Blue Badge Parking
On St Aldate’s there are three blue badge designated spaces, (30 metres level going to Tom Gate – cobbles directly outside the gate). There are two designated spaces in Pembroke Square (20 metres across St Aldates from Tom Tower). There are four more in Oriel Square.
Toilet Facilities
Please be aware there is only a small number of toilets on site. There is an accessible toilet for wheelchair users.