Church Services

Easter isn't just about gorging on chocolate - for those of the Christian faith, there's a strong religious aspect too. A time of celebration, Easter is when Christians believe that Jesus died and rose again. To celebrate, a church service followed by a slap-up lunch surrounded by friends and family is traditional. You can drop into almost any London church on Easter Sunday and the whole of Holy Week for quiet contemplation and raise-the-roof hymn singing... we've highlighted just a few below.

All Souls Langham Place

2 All Souls Place, W1B 3DA
Anyone who's stood at Oxford Circus wondering which way to turn or trying to meet somebody outside Topshop cannot have failed to notice this striking in-the-round church standing at the northern end of Regent Street. All Souls is the last surviving church built by 19th century architect John Nash and received some pretty harsh criticism when it opened in 1824. Today, the church fills to the rafters for Sunday services as people escape the hustle and bustle of the West End and come into this place of worship. It also has an active outward focus, ministering to workers, students and young people through a variety of groups and events. Services are a rich mix of praise, music (All Souls' famous orchestra accompanies the congregation about once a month) and biblical teaching. Being a part of this vibrant community at Easter time is sure to be an uplifting experience as Rector Hugh Palmer and Rico Tice, All Souls' resident evangelist, talk about hope in the Christian faith.

Services as follows:

Friday 6th April (Good Friday)
10am - All Age Service
12pm-3pm - Service of Meditation

Sunday 8th April (Easter Sunday)
8am - Communion Service
9.30am - Morning Service
11.30am - Morning Service
6.30pm - Evening Service

All Souls Langham Place - Information

Southwark Cathedral

Montague Close, London, SE1 9DA
While you might be hard pressed to get into the Easter Sunday services at the oldest Gothic building in London, Southwark Cathedral is running many additional services over the Easter period. A hidden gem of a cathedral on the south bank of the Thames by London Bridge, its position just across the river from the city means its mission is to the thriving business community outside its walls but at this time of year worshippers come from all corners to engage with Jesus' death and resurrection. Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday and on Good Friday there's the Procession of Witness which begins at the cathedral at 11am and stops at a number of places along the way for readings before concluding at noon.

Services as follows:

Sunday 1st April (Palm Sunday)
8.45am - Morning prayer
11am - Palm Procession with the Choral Eucharist and the Passion: Gather in Jubilee Market before the procession begins.
3pm - Choral Evensong
6.30pm - Choral Eucharist with the Singing of the Passion

Thursday 5th April (Maundy Thursday)
8.15am - Eucharist
11am - Chrism Mass
12.30pm - Midday prayer
5.30pm - Evening Prayer
6.30pm - Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper

Friday 6th April (Good Friday)
9am - Morning Prayer and Litany
11am - Procession of Witness
12pm - The Preaching of the Passion
4pm - Evening Prayer
6.30pm - Good Friday Concert

Saturday 7th April (Holy Saturday)
9am - Morning Prayer and Litany
4pm - Evening Prayer
8pm - Easter Vigil with the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation

Sunday 24th April (Easter Sunday)
8.45am - Morning Prayer
9am - Eucharist and hymns
11am - Choral Eucharist
3pm - Choral Evensong
6.30pm - Service of Light

Current events at Southwark Cathedral

Martin Ford event Monday 21st May
TIMES Monday 21st May 2012 - 1pm PRICING phone for prices
The organist performs various works.... More about this event

Charles Ross And Maureen Parry event Tuesday 22nd May
TIMES Tuesday 22nd May 2012 - 3.15pm PRICING phone for prices
Piano recital.... More about this event

Ullern Chamber Choir event Friday 25th May
TIMES Friday 25th May 2012 - 7.30pm PRICING phone for prices
The choir performs works by Norwegian composers including Greig.... More about this event

David Pipe event Monday 28th May
TIMES Monday 28th May 2012 - 1pm PRICING phone for prices
The organist performs various works.... More about this event

Sophie Warwick And Sebastian Wybrew event Tuesday 29th May
TIMES Tuesday 29th May 2012 - 3.15pm PRICING phone for prices
The piano duo performs various works.... More about this event

All events at Southwark Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Churchyard, EC4M 8AD
The great dome of St Paul's is one of the most striking features of the City's skyline, standing proud as a beacon of our Christian heritage. Walk over the Millennium Bridge on Easter Sunday with the majestic cathedral façade before you and you'll be in for something of a spiritual experience before you even step inside. The building is a wonderfully historic site. Built by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed Old St Paul's, the new cathedral miraculously went on to escape major damage during the Blitz in World War Two. Images of the famous dome framed by smoke became a powerful symbol of hope in a dark time. This poignant story of survival and a lesson in leaving the past behind while looking to new life is what Jesus' resurrection at Easter is all about. The Holy Week services at St Paul's provide a traditional and thoughtful way to meditate on these significant themes.

Services as follows:

Sunday 1st April (Palm Sunday)
8am - Holy Communion
1pm - Sunday Forum - Dancing in the Dark
3.15pm - Choral Evensong
4.45pm - Sunday Organ Recital
6pm - Eucharist

Thursday 6th April (Maundy Thursday)
8am - Eucharist
10.30am - Chrism Mass
5pm - Eucharist, the Washing of Feet and the Watch of the Passion. With foot washing followed by vigil until midnight recalling the Last Supper and the events leading up to the betrayal and arrest of Jesus.

Friday 7th April (Good Friday)
10am - Mattins and Litany in Procession
12pm - Liturgy of Good Friday with the Veneration of the Cross: Readings, silence and prayers marking and reflecting on the time Jesus hung and died on the cross. There are various points throughout the three hours when the congregation may arrive and leave.

Saturday 8th April (Holy Saturday)
7pm - Easter Vigil and Diocesan Confirmation: One of the most dramatic services of the year, recalling the history of salvation with fire, water, bread and wine, and celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Sunday 9th April (Easter Sunday)
5.45am - Dawn Eucharist
8am - Holy Communion
10.15am - Choral Mattins
11.30am - Sung Eucharist
3.15pm - Choral Evensong
4.45pm - Organ Recital
6pm - The Eucharist with Hymns

Current events at St Paul's Cathedral

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee: Service of Thanksgiving and Carriage Procession event Tuesday 5th June
On Tuesday 5th June 2012 The Queen and other members of the Royal Family will attend a Service of Thanksgiving More about this event

All events at St Paul's Cathedral

St Clement Danes

Central Church of the RAF, Strand, WC2R 1DH
For a child-friendly atmosphere in the heart of London, head along to St Clement Danes where the famous Oranges and Lemons service takes place before Easter on 18th March. The classic English nursery rhyme - "'Oranges and lemons', say the bells of St Clement's" - could be said to be based on this church on the Strand and its bells indeed ring out the tune daily at 9am, 12pm, 3pm and 6pm. St Clement Eastcheap also lays claim to being the church featured in the rhyme but don't let a mere technicality get in the way of enjoying the tradition. The rhyme rings out on the church bells, the oldest of which is the Sanctus Bell which was cast in 1588 by Robert Mot, founder of the Whitechapel Foundry. A church has stood on this prominent spot beside the Royal Courts of Justice, on an island in the middle of the Strand, for over 1,000 years. The 'Danes' in the title may well refer to its 9th century construction by the many Danish who lived in England at the time and who dedicated the church to St Clement, patron saint of mariners. Mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, the church escaped damage in the Great Fire of 1666 but was rebuilt by Christopher Wren in 1681. Not so lucky during the Blitz, it was all but destroyed in 1941 and restored in 1958 as the central church of the Royal Air Force. The Easter services, led by the resident chaplin Adrian Gatrill with uplifting accompaniment from the excellent church choir, take place at 11am on both Good Friday and Easter Day.

Services as follows:

Thursday 18th March
1.30pm - Oranges and Lemons Service

Friday 2nd April (Good Friday)
11am - Good Friday Liturgy

Sunday 4th April (Easter Sunday)
11am - Choral Eucharist

St Clement Danes - Information

Westminster Abbey

20 Dean's Yard, SW1P 3PA
People have been worshipping on this site for over 1,000 years, dating back to when Benedictine monks arrived circa 960. From these humble beginnings Westminster Abbey has become one of the most famous churches in history, not least because of its awesome architecture, with kings and queens having started and ended their reigns within its majestic walls for centuries. But, even though the Abbey has witnessed its fair share of pomp and ceremony - early examples are King Edward's burial and William the Conqueror's coronation - it still retains a tradition of daily worship, counting itself not just as an historic building but as a living church within the Church of England. Stepping inside its grand, cavernous interior may make you feel like you're entering a place of reverence and the traditional liturgy and sweet singing from the Abbey Choir will wash over you, giving you some peaceful time to reflect this Easter. Enjoy a special recital on Tuesday in Holy Week (30th March) when the choir of Westminster Abbey is accompanied by organist Robert Quinney for a meditation on the Passion of Jesus Christ.

Services as follows:

Sunday 1st April (Palm Sunday)
11.15am - Blessing of Palms, Procession and Sung Eucharist
3pm - Evensong
6.30pm - Evening Service

Tuesday 3rd April
7pm - Holy Week Concert 2012: Arvo Part's St John Passion (Tickets: £10-£24)

Thursday 5th April (Maundy Thursday)
5pm - Sung Eucharist with the Washing of the Feet

Friday 6th April (Good Friday)
10.30am - Matins and Litany
12.30pm - Devotions at the Cross
3pm - Solemn Liturgy of the Passion and Death of Our Lord

Saturday 7th April (Holy Saturday)
8pm - Vigil, Baptism and First Eucharist of Easter

Sunday 8th April (Easter Sunday)
8am - Holy Communion
10.30am - Sung Eucharist
3pm - Evensong and Procession
6.30pm - Evening Service with Hymns

Current events at Westminster Abbey

The Choir Of Westminster Abbey/St James's Baroque event Thursday 24th May
TIMES Thursday 24th May 2012 - 7pm PRICING £10-£40
James O'Donnell conducts Bach's Motet 'Singet Dem Herrn Ein Neues Lied' and Handel's Motet 'Silete Veni' and Ode For Saint Cecilia's Day. With... More about this event

All events at Westminster Abbey

St Martin-in-the-Fields

Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ
Set in the heart of the West End, St Martin-in-the-Fields is a popular place of worship and is frequently full to the rafters for its services and excellent concert programme. Every Easter it has a comprehensive programme of religious services and prayers, including services in Mandarin and Cantonese (for the nearby Oriental population of Chinatown). The annual Palm Sunday Procession is always one for the diary and includes a procession from Admiralty Arch led by a donkey. The historic church, which overlooks Trafalgar Square, was designed by James Gibbs and built in 1726. It houses a glorious eaterie - the Cafe in the Crypt - a gift shop, brass rubbing centre, art gallery and a market in the courtyard. Candle-lit concerts are held from Thursday to Saturday, there are free lunchtime recitals on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays and jazz on Wednesdays. All profits go to support the work of the church, with its particular ministry to the homeless.

Services as follows:

Sunday 1st April (Palm Sunday)
8.00am: Holy Communion (BCP)
9.45am: Palm Sunday Procession Meet at the corner of St James’s Park near Admiralty Arch. Join the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields and the Salvation Army Band for a procession with palms, led by a donkey, into church.
10.00am: Eucharist With the reading of the Passion Gospel
1.00pm: Service in Mandarin
2.15pm: Service in Cantonese
(no 5pm Choral Evensong)
6.30pm From Creation to Salvation An exploration of Sacred Space and the place of transformation in word and music. All are welcome to this act of worship. A service of readings and music leading us into Holy Week with the Choir of St Martin in the Fields.

Monday 2nd April - Wednesday 4th April
8.00am: Morning Prayer
1.15pm: Holy Communion (DSC)
6.00pm: Holy Communion with homily

Thursday 5th April (Maundy Thursday)
8am - Morning Prayer
6.30pm Maundy Thursday Liturgy: The first of the 'Three Great Days' is marked with the Eucharist of the Last Supper, including foot washing, the Stripping of the Sanctuary and the Watch with Christ in his Passion (Preacher: Revd Katherine Hedderly)

Friday 6th April (Good Friday)
8am - Morning Prayer
10am - Good Friday Service for all ages
12pm - The Three Hours: Service of reflections
3pm - Rt Revd Bill Ind is the preacher in this series of reflections on the Passion of Christ

Sunday 7th April (Easter Sunday)
5.30am: The Easter Vigil and the First Eucharist of Easter The lighting of the Easter Fire and Candle in darkness begins our Easter Day journey from darkness to light, from silence to the joyful celebration of the Resurrection.
10.00am: Easter Eucharist Preacher: Revd Richard Carter With the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields
1.00pm: Service in Mandarin
2.15pm: Service in Cantonese
5.00pm: Choral Evensong with the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields

Current events at St Martin-in-the-Fields

Emily Andrews And Christopher Hopkins event Monday 21st May
TIMES Monday 21st May 2012 - 1pm PRICING Free, £3.50 suggested donations
The flautist and pianist perform Reinecke's Ballade, Messiaen, Vocalise-Etutde, Poulenc's Vocalise, Rachmaninov's Vocalise, Roussel's Vocalise-Etu... More about this event

Brandenburg Sinfonia event Tuesday 22nd May
TIMES Tuesday 22nd May 2012 - 7.30pm PRICING £10-£18
Robert Porter conducts Vivaldi's Sinfonia No 1, Bassoon Concerto In A Minor and his Sinfonia No 2, Holst's Book Green Suite, Purcell's Chacony, Che... More about this event

Total Brass event Tuesday 22nd May
TIMES Tuesday 22nd May 2012 - 1pm PRICING Free, £3.50 suggested donations
... More about this event

Ivan Yanakov event Friday 25th May
TIMES Friday 25th May 2012 - 1pm PRICING Free, £3.50 suggested donations
The pianist performs Chopin's Andante Spianato Et Grande Polonaise Brilliante and Liszt's Sonata In B Minor.... More about this event

London Concertante event Friday 25th May
TIMES Friday 25th May 2012 - 7.30pm PRICING £8-£24
Violinist Fenella Humphreys directs Mozart's Divertimento In D, Piano Concerto In A and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Schubert's Rondo For Violin And Stri... More about this event

All events at St Martin-in-the-Fields