A CONGREGATION of more than 3500 filled Liverpool Cathedral (above) on New Year’s Eve for a service to mark the start of Liverpool’s year as the European City of Culture (2008), which begins this weekend,

After the service, led by the Dean, the Very Revd Justin Welby; the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Revd James Jones; and the RC Archbishop of Liverpool, the Most Revd Patrick Kelly, fireworks were let off from the cathedral, which will host a year-long programme of arts events.

Last weekend saw the opening of “Anne Frank + You”, an exhibition created by the Anne Frank Trust. It will be open (apart from main service times) until 7 February.

On 26 January, the Archbishop of Canterbury will give a lecture, “Europe, Culture and Faith”. Other events include a performance of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem, and the northern première of Paul McCartney’s Ecce Cor Meum.

Tomorrow, the official launch date, the cathedral will host a corporate dinner in the evening for the business community. It is timed to begin at 20:08.

Liverpool has also been chosen by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (held on 27 January each year) as the host city for 2008.

www.liverpoolcathedral.org www.liverpool08.com