The journey begins...
Lent is the forty day period before Easter that leads us to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Day. The early Church set aside this time to prepare candidates for baptism and to encourage all Christian people to refresh their relationship with God - in prayer, charity and fasting. Today many are reclaiming the spiritual insights and benefits of using Lent properly. Lent is a gift, a snowfall in the soul, some days set aside for spiritual adventure. It is an invitation to discover more of God, the self, and the quality of our relationships and behaviour.
We invite you to share this time with us and to join us in our observance of this holy season.
Mark Oakley, Dean of Southwark
Music for Passiontide, Holy Week and Easter
All are welcome to join us at the Cathedral for our celebration of Holy Week and Easter. We would be delighted to see you.
Services marked with an asterisk* are livestreamed.
Sunday 29 March | Palm Sunday
11am | Choral Eucharist and Procession of Palms*
3pm | Choral Evensong
6pm | Holy Week Meditation – words and music preparing for the journey through Holy Week.
These services begin the Cathedral’s journey into Holy Week, with music by Langlais, Malcolm and Ives, sung by the Cathedral Choir.
Monday 30 March & Tuesday 31 March
6.30pm | Compline with Address
Featuring Tallis Lamentations, sung by the Lay Clerks.
Wednesday 1 April
6.30pm | Tenebrae
Featuring Victoria Tenebrae Responsories, sung by the Cathedral Consort.
2 April | Maundy Thursday
11am | The Chrism Eucharist
6.30pm | Celebration of the Lord’s Supper with the Washing of Feet and the Watch of the Passion*
Featuring music by Bruckner, Duruflé and Walton, sung by the Cathedral Choir.
3 April | Good Friday
12pm | The Preaching of the Passion*
1.30pm | The Liturgy of Good Friday*
Featuring music by Sanders, Victoria and Lotti, sung by the Cathedral Choir.
4 April | Holy Saturday
8pm | The Easter Vigil*
Featuring music by Vierne, Martin and Widor, sung by the Cathedral Choir.
5 April | Easter Day
11am | Choral Eucharist*
Featuring Mozart Coronation Mass and Vaughan Williams Rise, heart and others.
3pm | Festal Evensong and Te Deum*
Featuring Stanford’s Evening Service in A, Wesley Blessed be the God and Father, and Howells Collegium Regale Te Deum.
Other events during Lent
Reconciliation Walk: The Power of Lament
Join the Community of the Cross of Nails for a morning of reflection, discussion and a guided walk visiting London Bridge, Cross Bones Cemetery and Minerva Square, before returning to the Cathedral for conversation and debrief.
Discover more about this event here.