About us
The Christmas Carol Concert by Candlelight in Ripon Cathedral has been held in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support for over 25 years. It is now a well-known annual event supported by both Aysgarth School and Queen Mary’s School Choirs and musicians, with a rich and interesting programme of talented performers and celebrity readers. The uplifting music in the splendid beauty of the candlelit Cathedral marks the start of Christmas festivities for many.
The Carol Concert is organised by the Yorkshire Macmillan Carol Concert Committee, a dedicated group of volunteers who work throughout the year to arrange the event. Last year our concert raised an incredible £38,432.
Over the years, with the generosity of our sponsors, advertisers, donors and audience, we have raised £605,563 for Macmillan Cancer Support. This has provided local services such as funding for professional posts like the Macmillan Children’s Cancer Nurse at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds, funding for our Macmillan Support Line in Shipley, and help in building the state-of-the-art Sir Robert Ogden Cancer Centre in Northallerton.
With your donation we can continue to support vital cancer services available to local people whose lives have been affected by cancer.
This year we are raising funds for a new ‘gold standard’ Macmillan Cancer Support Centre at York Hospital. Together, Macmillan and York & Scarborough Teaching Hospitals are working on a detailed design to upgrade the Cancer Care Centre. The significant improvements will enhance and increase the support available at the centre, and revolutionise the experience and wellbeing for thousands of people living with cancer in York and beyond. In the unlikely event that the centre does not go ahead or if there is a surplus of funds, we will use the donations, not used or needed for the build, to provide much needed help and support to people living with cancer.
We look forward to seeing you all at the Macmillan Carol Concert on Monday 1st December 2025.
About Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support has spent more than 100 years helping people living with cancer. We know that cancer can disrupt your whole life. And it can be made worse simply because of who you are and where you live.
But we’re here to change that.
The number of people diagnosed with cancer is growing, and every one of them needs the best support to meet their unique needs.
That's why we'll do whatever it takes to help everyone living with cancer across the UK get the support they need right now and transform cancer care for everyone who will be diagnosed in the future.
Help us reach the people living with cancer who need us most. To donate, volunteer, raise money or campaign with us, call 0300 1000 200 or visit macmillan.org.uk.
The Yorkshire Macmillan Carol Concert Committee is a group of volunteers who fundraise for Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604), also operating in Northern Ireland.
