The sounds of Christmas choral music will fill Peel Cathedral this weekend during an annual carol service.

The Cathedral choir will hold their popular Festival of Lessons and Carols, under the direction of Dr Peter Litman on Sunday December 16, from 3pm.

This year the Cathedral choir will be singing a selection of their choral favourites, such as The Sans Day Carol, by John Rutter, David Willcock’s arrangement of Sussex Carol, and Philip Stopford’s Christmas Blessing.

They will also be performing some more less-familiar Christmas music, including a locally-written Manx carol, Cold Blows the Wind by Mary Wood, the London-born composer who moved to the island in 1857 and founded the Manx Music and song competition, better known as the Guild. She was also the first organist of St German’s Church.

The choir will also sing Welcome Yule by Charles Parry and Eastern Monarchs by Liverpool Cathedral’s Ian Tracey.

The congregation will also be treated to the usual selection of favourite Christmas Carols, accompanied by this year’s cathedral organ scholar, Christopher Beaumont.

This annual concert has been an institution at the church since 1885, and is one that Dr Litman particularly enjoys conducting.

’I always look forward to this wonderful service,’ said Dr Litman.

’It is the highlight of the year, in anticipation of which of my choristers will open the proceedings with that nerve wracking "Once in Royal" at the beginning of the service.’

The service is free to attend and there will be refreshents, such as hot spiced apple punch and mince pies, served afterwards. Doors open at 2.30pm, with the advice to arrive early.