Lent, Holy Week and Easter 2023

The 40 day period of Lent is characterised as a time of fasting and prayer when many choose to give something up. All are invited to join us as we journey through this special time in the Church year.

Ash Wednesday | 22 February

Ash Wednesday is the first day of the season of Lent. This 40-day period leading up to Easter is a time of preparation ahead of the celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection during Holy Week and Easter. Lent is characterised as a time of fasting and prayer when many choose to give something up.

On Ash Wednesday, ashes are placed on the head in the shape of a cross, accompanied by the words ‘remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.’ All are welcome to join us for our services on Ash Wednesday.

9am – Morning Prayer

12.45pm – Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes

5pm – Evening Prayer

5.30pm – Choral Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes

Sundays during Lent

‘You must be born from above’

During Lent we will be meeting at 9.45am each Sunday in order to study the gospel readings together. Using music and art we will consider the gospel reading for the day and ask how it will help us to think more about what it means to be ‘born from above’ and to keep a holy and prayerful Lent. Each session will be led by one of the clergy.

Mothering Sunday | 19 March

Join us as we mark the Fourth Sunday of Lent which is variously called ‘refreshment’, ‘laetare’, or ‘Mothering’ Sunday. It is a day away from the fasting and abstinence of Lent before Passiontide and Holy Week take us with Jesus to Jerusalem and to Calvary’s cross.

We will distributing beautiful posies at our 9am and 11am Eucharists.

8.30am – Morning Prayer

9am – Eucharist

11am – Choral Eucharist*

3pm – Choral Evensong

6pm – Compline*

Palm Sunday | 2 April

On Palm Sunday we recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. The crowd waved palm leaves and covered his path with them. We remember this with crosses made from palm leaves. Today also marks the beginning of Holy Week.

8.30am – Morning Prayer

9am – Eucharist with the Preaching of the Passion

11am – Choral Eucharist with Procession from Borough Market *

3pm – Evensong with the first Holy Week Address.

In the Harvard Chapel of Southwark Cathedral you can find the vexillum, the ‘trophies’ or instruments of the passion, combined to create a complex cross that tells a life and death story. Through his series of Holy Week addresses, the Very Reverend Andrew Nunn, Dean of Southwark will look at the way in which a number of these objects were used as the journey to the cross unfolded.  He will pose the question ‘Are we too an instrument of the passion?’

6pm – Compline, with the first Holy Week Address*

Monday 3 – Wednesday 5 April

Our journey through Holy Week continues through our daily services and Holy Week Addresses.

9am – Morning Prayer*

12.30pm – Midday Prayer

12.45pm – Eucharist with Hymns

5.30pm – Choral Evensong

7pm – Holy Week Address and Compline*

Maundy Thursday | 6 April

On Maundy Thursday we recall the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples before his arrest and trial, and his commandment to them to love one another.

9am – Morning Prayer

11am – Chrism Eucharist

Clergy and lay ministers from across the Diocese of Southwark gather together for an act of commitment to ministry and the blessing of the holy oils for use throughout the year.

5.30pm – Evening Prayer

6.30pm – Celebration of the Lord’s Supper*

Good Friday | 7 April

Good Friday is the day when we remember the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is a sombre day where we meet, pray and reflect on the sacrifice Jesus willingly paid for all our sins.

9am – Morning Prayer with Litany

10.15am – We will walk from the Cathedral to Waterloo Station for a short pop up Good Friday service. Please meet in the Millennium Courtyard at 10.15am for the service at 11am.

12pm – Preaching of the Passion with the Very Reverend Andrew Nunn, Dean of Southwark *

1.30pm – Liturgy of the Day *

4pm – Evening Prayer

Holy Saturday | 8 April

Holy Saturday is a day of preparation ahead of the joy of Easter Sunday.

9am - Morning Prayer with Litany

4pm - Evening Prayer

8pm - Easter Vigil*

This service marks the end of the emptiness of Holy Saturday and leads into the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. We pray also for those who are being baptised and confirmed this evening.