Services at the Abbey Church
Sunday Services
- 8.30 a.m.
- Holy Communion: a quiet, reflective communion service with sermon, based on the 1928 prayer book.
- 10.30 a.m.
- Parish Eucharist: a Common Worship communion service with hymns, some parts are sung by the congregation and choir. The service has a formal structure but encompasses moments of informality and humour! For children, there is a Sunday Club that meets for the first part of the service on the second and fourth Sunday of the month. The service lasts about an hour.
- We invite you to stay for refreshments and fellowship after the 10.30am service.
- 4.00 p.m.
-
- Choral Evensong (2nd and 4th Sundays): a service (main church) using the 1928 prayer book for evening prayer led by the Choir. With psalm, hymns, canticles, anthem and sermon.
From January to March 2024 we are experimenting with this earlier time of 4.00 p.m. for Choral Evensong. Please let the Parish Office know what you think.
Weekday Services
- Wednesday
- Holy Communion: 10.30 a.m. in the main Church. A 1928 Book of Common Prayer communion service. Lasts 35 minutes.
This month
March
March
- Sunday 3rd – Third Sunday in Lent
-
8.30 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. Parish Eucharist
- music
- Kyrie: Inwood
- Sanctus: Inwood
- Agnus Dei: Batten (Short communion service)
- Tallis Salvator mundi
- Bruckner Locus iste
- Sunday 10th – Fourth Sunday in Lent; Mothering Sunday
-
8.30 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. Parish Eucharist
- music
- Kyrie: Inwood
- Sanctus: Inwood
- Agnus Dei: Tim Scott
- Stainer God so loved the world
- Rutter For the beauty of the earth
4.00 p.m. Choral Evensong
- music
- Responses: Plainsong
- Canticles: Farrant Short service
- Byrd Civitas sancti tui
- Sunday 17th – Fifth Sunday in Lent
-
8.30 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. Parish Eucharist
- Sunday 24th – Palm Sunday
-
8.30 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. Parish Eucharist (beginning in the Market Square at 10.15 a.m.)
- music
- Kyrie: Inwood
- Sanctus: Inwood
- Agnus Dei: Leighton (Communion Service in D)
- Gibbons/Bairstow Jesu, grant me this I pray
- Leighton Solus ad victimam
4.00 p.m. Choral Evensong
- music
- Responses: Plainsong
- Canticles: Noble Evening Service in B minor
- Bruckner Christus factus est
- Thursday 28th – Maundy Thursday
-
8.00 p.m. Eucharist of the Last Supper with Vigil
- music
- Wood Communion Service in the Phrygian Mode
- Gjeilo Ubi caritas et amor
- Tallis O sacrum convivium
- Friday 29th – Good Friday
-
12.00 noon The Liturgy of Good Friday
- music
- Chilcott God so loved the world
- Dvořák Virgo virginum, praeclara
- Byrd Ave verum corpus
2.00 p.m. Private prayer and devotion at the cross
- Sunday 31st – Easter Day
-
8.30 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. Parish Eucharist
- music
- Gloria: Rutter
- Sanctus: Inwood
- Agnus Dei: Mozart Missa brevis in C (‘Spatzenmesse’)
- Ledger (arr.) This joyful Eastertide
- Handel Hallelujah (Messiah)
- Lindley (arr.) Now the Green Blade Riseth
6.30 p.m. Festal Evensong
- music
- Responses: Hutchings
- Canticles: Stanford (in C)
- Stanford Ye choirs of new Jerusalem
April
- Sunday 7th – Second Sunday of Easter
-
8.30 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. Parish Eucharist
- Sunday 14th – Third Sunday of Easter
-
8.30 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. Parish Eucharist
4.00 p.m. Choral Evensong
- Sunday 21st – Fourth Sunday of Easter
-
8.30 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. Parish Eucharist
- Sunday 28th – Fifth Sunday of Easter
-
8.30 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. Parish Eucharist
4.00 p.m. Choral Evensong
Special Services
Weddings
We welcome enquiries about weddings, please contact the Parish Office for details. See also our Wedding Guide.
Renewal of Wedding Vows
Take place throughout the week. Please contact the Parish Office for details.
Baptisms
Baptisms usually take place on the first or third Sunday of the month after the main Sunday morning service. Enquiries please to the Parish Office.
Funerals
These usually take place on weekdays. Please make enquiries with the Parish Office.
Memorial Service
This usually takes place twice a year on a Sunday in spring and autumn (for dates and times, please see above or in the weekly notices; alternatively contact the Parish Office). A time to remember the departed who were close to us. All welcome.
Other Resources
The resources below are available for you to use at home:
- An order of service for Morning Prayer at Home.
- An order of service for Night Prayer.
- The monthly Prayer Diary.
- The Church of England Daily Hope phone line: 0800 804 8044 (freephone). Please pass this phone number on to those who don't have access to anything other than a telephone.