An annual and traditional Christmas carol service will take place in Peel this weekend.

The Nine Lessons and Carols service, is set to go ahead at Peel Cathedral on Sunday, December 12, at 3pm.

Among the programme of familiar Christmas songs and carols will be new choral arrangements along with well-known congregational carols, accompanied by traditional soaring descants.

The service of readings and Christmas carols will be led by the Cathedral Choir, directed by Dr Peter Litman and accompanied by Stuart Corrie at the Cathedral organ.

The Cathedral choir will be joined by the noted Manx singer and soloist, Kristene Sutcliffe, who will be leading the choir in a highly anticipated performance of ’O Holy Night’.

One particular highlight of the service is the atmospheric rendition of ’Once In Royal David’s City’, which begins with a solo voice, before developing into a full choral arrangement.

’I always look forward to this wonderful service, the highlight of the year,’ said Peter.

’Which child Chorister will open the proceedings with that haunting ’Once in Royal’ solo? Come along and find out!’

The congregation will include the Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer, Chief Minister Alf Cannan, the chair of Peel Commissioners, Hazel Hannan and the Lord Bishop, as well as other local dignitaries.

The organisers said that they have taken measures to counteract the threat of the spread of Covid-19, including making wider spaces between the church pews and making sanitizer available at the door.

Audience members are also requested to wear a face mask at all times.

Alternatively, the service can be watched via livestream on the Cathedral’s website, cathedral.im