Suffolk church services that will help you get in the festive mood over the Christmas period including in Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich, Sudbury and more
Many people still love the age-old tradition of attending church over the Christmas period to really help get them in a merry mood.
Nearly every place of worship in Suffolk will host some kind of event for communities to come together, sing, chat, and get into the spirit of the season.
As the rising cost-of-living continues to bite, it is more important than ever for events likes these to take place, to ensure no one is lonely this Christmas.
The Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich has encouraged places of worship and religious schools to post information about their events onto the website, A Church Near You.
If we missed any in your area, it could be a good place to double-check.
Beccles
A one-hour carol service will be hosted at the church of St Michael the Archangel, in Beccles, this Sunday, December 18.
There are four planned events for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with a crib service at 4pm and a midnight communion on the 24th, alongside holy communion at 9am and Christmas praise at 11am on the 25th.
St Luke's Church in Ringbourne Hill will host a carol service on December 21 at 7pm and communion on Christmas Day from 9am.
Bury St Edmunds
St Edmundsbury Cathedral will be jam-packed full of events this holiday season.
On December 18, it will be hosting its longest night service, with music, carols, and quiet reflection for those for whom Christmas may be difficult.
December 19 and 20 will see festive crafts aimed at children, while December 23 will see a 90 minute carol service, beginning at 7.30pm.
On Christmas Eve, the cathedral will host a crib service – a service for families telling the story of Christmas.
The first will be from 2pm to 2.30pm, while the second will be from 3pm to 3.30pm.
From 11pm, there will also be midnight mass to welcome in the big day.
Diss
There are plenty of services in the Diss area.
The church of St Mary the Virgin will host carols by candlelight from 6pm on Sunday.
A Christmas Eve crib service and midnight mass will be followed by communion on Christmas Day.
In addition, a crib service will be held at St Regimius church in Roydon from 4.30pm on Christmas Eve.
St John the Baptist's Church in Bressingham will be hosting a carol service on Sunday from 3pm, and will follow St Regimius in hosting a crib service from 5pm on the December 24, while Diss will host its service at 5pm.
Roydon's Christmas Day service will commence at 9.30am, while St Mary's will start at 11am.
Haverhill
A candlelit carol service will take place at the church of St Peter and St Paul's in Kedington, near Haverhill, on Sunday, from 4pm.
This will be followed by a crib service on Christmas Eve from 2pm, and a midnight service from 11pm.
Attendees to St Leonard's Church in Wixoe can join in with a carol service on December 24 from 7pm.
Midnight mass will take place from 11.30pm, and a family communion will welcome Christmas morning from 9am.
Ipswich
St Mary-le-Tower in Ipswich will be hosting a Christmas concert between 1.10pm and 1.55pm on December 20.
St Mary the Elms will host a lunchtime carol service on December 21. December 24 will see both a crib service and midnight mass from 4pm and 11.30pm, respectively.
Families can attend Christmas Day mass from 10.45am.
All Saints Church in Chevallier Street will host a nativity service from 10.30am on Sunday, while a candlelit carol service kicks off at 6.30pm.
There will also be a Christmas morning service from 10.30am.
December 18 will be a busy day for St Mary Stoke.
Carols around the crib takes place from 10am, 9 lessons and carols – a traditional service with a choir – is on from 4pm, while Sheltered, a sermon by Reverend Sophie Cowan, takes place at 6pm.
The church will host community carols from 6.30pm on December 20, while midnight mass will take place from 11.30pm on December 24, and a traditional Christmas day service is scheduled for 10am.
All Saints Church in Kesgrave will host a nativity story on Sunday from 10am, while a carol service will take place from 6pm.
A crib service will occur from 4pm, followed by midnight communion from 10pm.
Finally, its Christmas Day service will kick off at 10am.
Lowestoft
Christ Church in Lowestoft will also host a candlelit service on Sunday from 7pm.
Two different Christingle service will take place on Christmas Eve, at 3pm, and 4.30pm.
Christmas Day service kicks off at 10am.
St Andrew's Church in Roman Road will offer a carol service under lantern light on Sunday from 6.30pm.
On December 22 from 6.30pm, churchgoers will walk around the town singing to get people in the Christmas spirit.
A crib service will follow on Christmas Eve from 5pm.
Newmarket
All Saints Church in Newmarket will offer two carol services on Sunday – one at 10am and the other at 6.30pm.
A 45-minute crib service will be held on Christmas Eve from 4pm, before midnight mass kicks off at 11pm.
Families can show up to the Christmas Day service from 10.15am.
Just across the border in Cambridgeshire, a carol service will take place in St Mary's in Swaffham Prior from 4.30pm.
A crib service is planned for December 23, as are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day communions from 11pm, and 8am, respectively.
Sudbury
St Gregory's Church in Sudbury will be hosting a carol service this Sunday, December 18, from 6pm.
It, too, will have a midnight service on Christmas Eve, as well as a Christmas Day service from 10am.
All-Saints Church will host a nativity at 3.30pm on December 24.
There will also be carols on the green at 3.30pm on Sunday, and carols by candlelight in the church at 6.30pm.
