Choirs and congregations, and people in their kitchens preparing food for family and friends, will be blasting out these rousing lines of 'O come, all ye faithful' this Christmas. At Durham Cathedral, we have been singing sacred music and inspiring others to sing for nearly 1000 years - that's half the lifetime of the church!

This year's Christmas appeal invites you to join us in supporting more young people from our region to realise their potential by becoming part of the choir and experiencing a life-changing education within the Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation.

In particular, we would like to take school fees away altogether for those pupils most in need of support. Proceeds from our appeal will provide means-tested bursaries, as well as funding the choir's outreach work, sharing the joy of music with communities across the region.

We are incredibly grateful that one of the Cathedral's generous supporters, a longstanding friend of the choral foundation, will match the first £1500 raised through this appeal, £1 for £1.

For more information, email: development@durhamcathedral.co.uk.