[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Reveals Christmas 2024 Special Stamps

• Issue date: 5 November
• Royal Mail celebrates Christmas 2024 with a series of five Special Stamps, featuring original illustrations of cathedrals from across the UK
• Featured on the stamps are cathedrals in Edinburgh, Liverpool, Armagh, Bangor and Westminster
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to buy now

Royal Mail has revealed images of five stamps being issued to celebrate Christmas 2024. The stamps feature some of the many spectacular cathedrals in the UK: in Edinburgh, Liverpool, Armagh, Bangor and Westminster.

The stamps were illustrated by Penzance-based, British artist, Judy Joel, whose popular paintings have been sold worldwide over the last 50 years. [On the right, the five-stamp souvenir sheet.]

Royal Mail worked with Canon Janet Gough, OBE, one of the UK’s foremost experts on cathedrals and church buildings on the stamp issue.

Canon Janet Gough, OBE, said: “These special stamps are a reminder that for centuries past, cathedrals have provided sanctuary, community, joy and wonder at the birth of Christ. And they continue to do so today, standing at the very heart of our cities. All the UK’s cathedrals will be open over Christmas, ready to welcome people of all faiths and none. For services, prayer and celebration, to find peace, or to enjoy the splendour of their music, architecture and treasures, visit a cathedral this Christmas!” [On the left, the 20-stamp plus labels “collectors sheet.”]

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “Cathedrals are a hugely significant part of our cultural heritage and play an important role in local communities. They also offer space for peaceful reflection and a bit of an escape from the challenges of daily life, which can be especially important at Christmas.” [On the right, one of the official first day covers available from Royal Mail.]

Christmas is a time of celebration in the midst of winter darkness at all of the United Kingdom’s cathedrals. A cathedral is the seat of a bishop (cathedra in Latin) and the principal church of the diocese, or church administrative area. From St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh, founded by the great Irish saint (originally from Roman Britain) as a monastic community on a hilltop, to Liverpool Cathedral, consecrated a century ago, cathedrals bear witness to history and play a key role in the nation’s spiritual, cultural and social life. With candlelight, festive decorations, magnificent architecture, awe-inspiring art and treasures and sublime music and liturgy, cathedrals are wonderful and welcoming places to visit at Christmas.

Stamp-by-stamp:
St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, designed by Victorian architect George Gilbert Scott, boldly harks back to upwardly soaring medieval Gothic cathedrals, with its three spires dominating Edinburgh. Consecrated in 1879, St Mary’s is the largest cathedral in Scotland today and maintains the tradition of regular choral worship, never more elaborate than at Christmas.

St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh (Church of Ireland)
The Church of Ireland Cathedral of St Patrick in Armagh traces its origins to a hilltop sanctuary founded by St Patrick, and worship has taken place on this site since the 5th century. At Christmas, the cathedral’s hallowed walls echo with the sound of carols and all find a warm welcome within.

Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool acquired an immense new cathedral for the 20th century, designed by the young architect Giles Gilbert Scott. Consecrated in 1924, the cathedral was not completed until 1978. In what is often called the ‘people’s cathedral’, breathtaking heights and a sense of space combine with beautiful craftsmanship.

St Deiniol’s Cathedral, Bangor / Cadeirlan Deiniol Sant ym Mangor
Bangor Cathedral stands where St Deiniol established his Celtic monastery in the 6th century. Battered by medieval wars between the princes of Gwynedd and the English kings, the cathedral now celebrates the languages, cultures and landscapes of Wales. Every Sunday and on Christmas Day, Welsh and English coexist in worship and prayer.

Westminster Cathedral, London
Westminster Cathedral is the largest Roman Catholic church in England and Wales and the seat of the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster. It was designed by John Francis Bentley in a neo-Byzantine style and built between 1895 and 1903. Candlelit Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve ushers in the celebration of the birth of Christ.

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to buy now at www.royalmail.com/christmas2024, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and 7,000 Post Offices across the UK. A Presentation Pack including all five stamps is priced at £10.35.