TV HIGHLIGHT:
Goodbye to Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams reflects on his
ten years as Archbishop, and on the art and architecture of
Canterbury Cathedral.
BBC2 New Year's Day
5.30pm
RADIO HIGHLIGHT:
Belief Joan Bakewell's guests include General Lord
Dannatt, Loretta Minghella and former US President Jimmy
Carter.
Radio 3 Christmas
Eve 9.25pm;
Christmas Day
10pm;
Boxing Day
9.40pm;
Thursday
9.10pm;
Friday 9pm
Friday 9pm
(BBC2) Westminster Abbey The part played by the Abbey in
national life is explored (3/3).
Sunday and Monday
9am (BBC1) David Suchet: In the footsteps of St
Paul David Suchet (far right) tracks the man who
brought Christianity to the Gentiles.
Sunday
4.30pm (BBC1) Songs of Praise David Grant hosts
carols and Christmas readings.
9pm (ITV1)
Joanna Lumley: The search for Noah's Ark Joanna Lumley
travels over three continents to explore the origins of an ancient
story.
Christmas Eve 3.55pm
6.15pm (BBC2) Carols from King's A specially
recorded sesrvice from King's College, Cambridge, with the nativity
story told in the words of the King James Bible (repeated on BBC2
at 10.45am on Christmas Day).
10.15pm
(ITV1) Christmas Carols on ITV Aled Jones and the cast of
Coronation Street retell the nativity story.
11.45pm
(BBC1) Midnight Mass from Leeds Cathedral A service live
from St Anne's RC Cathedral in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Christmas Day
10am (BBC1) Christmas Day Eucharist A morning
service live from St Mary's, Redcliffe, Bristol.
11.40pm
(BBC1) On Christmas Night The story of Christmas from St
Luke's Gospel, read by the Paralympian Rachel Morris
5.25pm
(BBC2) Arena: Sister Wendy and the art of the gospel The
82-year-old Carmelite nun reveals how paintings can connect the
viewer to the gospel stories they depict.
7pm (BBC4)
A Musical Nativity with John Rutter The composer conducts
carols at Dorchester Abbey.
Boxing Day to Friday
8pm (BBC4) Royal Institution Christmas Lectures: The
modern alchemist Peter Wothers looks at the ancient elements
of air, water, and earth.
Sunday 30 December
3.30pm (BBC1) Call the Midwife As Christmas
approaches, a baby is abandoned on the steps of the convent.
4.50pm
(BBC1) Songs of Praise Alfie Boe and 5000 singers are at
the Royal Albert Hall for hymns that reflect this historic
year.
New Year's Day
12.15pm (BBC1) and 5.25pm (BBC2) The
Archbishop of Canterbury's New Year Message Dr Williams's
final such address.
Saturday
7.48am (R4) Thought for the Day Dr Williams's
last "Thought" as Archbishop of Canterbury.
Sunday 6.05am and
11.30pm (R4) Something Understood Alan Hall
reflects on the angelic in the everyday.
8.10am (R4)
Sunday Worship A service from the Chapel of Unity,
Methodist College, Belfast.
4pm (R3)
Choral Evensong a repeat of last Wednesday's service from
Lichfield Cathedral.
7pm (R2)
Follow the Star Hardeep Singh Kohli investigates the Star
of Bethlehem.
8.30pm (R2)
Sunday Half-Hour Diane-Louise Jordan (above)
presents an hour-long Christmas edition from Beverley Minster.
8.30pm (R3)
Drama on 3: A new cycle of Mystery Plays A repeat of last
week's retelling of five New Testament stories.
Christmas Eve
3pm (R4 and BBC World Service) A Festival of Nine
Lessons and Carols The traditional order of service, live from
King's College, Cambridge (repeated on Radio 3 at 2pm on Christmas
Day).
11.30-12.45pm (R4) Midnight Mass live
from the RC Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool.
Christmas Day
9am (R4) Christmas Service from St Peter ad
Vincula, Tower of London.
9pm (R2)
Sing in Heavenly Peace: The true story of Silent Night
Cliff Richard explores aspects of Franz Gruber's 1818 song.
Boxing Day
3.30pm (R3) A Meditation on Christ's Nativity
John Tavener's Ex Maria Virgine, with the choir of Clare
College, Cambridge, from 2008 (repeated on 30 December on Radio 3
at 4pm).
Sunday
8.10am (R4) Sunday Worship A service from St
Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Glasgow.
New Year's Day
10.05pm Belief Joan Bakewell talks to the actor
Ben Kingsley.
Wednesday 3.30pm (R3) Choral Evensong
live from St Peter's College, Oxford.