Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ. Here’s a roundup of some of the services that took place across the Diocese – in the order of Holy Week, from Palm Sunday processions to Resurrection Sunday.
Palm Sunday
Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem greeted by crowds waving palm branches and cheers.
St John with St Andrew, Peckham
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Palm Sunday procession on the streets of Peckham.
Maundy Thursday
Services commemorate Jesus washing the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper on the night before his arrest.
Bishop Christopher, Patricia Ellis and Dean Mark at Southwark Cathedral.
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Patricia has been a member of the Flower Guild as a Flower Coordinator at Southwark Cathedral for over 20 years and has been Team Leader for the past 12 years. She was nominated by Bishop Christopher to receive Royal Maundy distributed by Her Majesty The Queen at Worcester Cathedral. Ceremonial coins were presented to 75 men and 75 women from around the country in recognition of their exemplary Christian service to Church and community over many years. Patricia is one of three nominated in Southwark to receive Maundy gifts.
St Anne’s Wandsworth
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Oils blessed by the Bishop during the Chrism Mass at Southwark Cathedral are distributed to parishes for sacramental ministries of anointing the sick with prayer for healing, baptism and confirmation.
St Peter, Battersea
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St Peter’s hosted a traditional Sedar (Passover meal) event where 50 people enjoyed a delicious cooked meal.
Good Friday
A sombre day remembering Jesus’ death on the cross. Many churches took part in walks of witness in their communities.
Southwark Cathedral
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A performance of the Duruflé Requiem by Southwark Cathedral’s Choir and Chamber Orchestra to conclude devotions on Good Friday.
Christ The King, Salfords
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The Cross at the altar.
Nine Elms Arts Ministry, Battersea
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Easter Wonderland Event at art’otel at Battersea Power Station.
Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday)
New life and light symbolised through lighting the Easter Candle.
St Anne’s, Wandsworth
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Altar of repose.
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Easter Candle.
Benefice of Upper Tooting: Holy Trinity Tooting w St Augustine
Holy Trinity
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6am Easter Vigil.
St Augustine’s
Lighting of the candle from fire. |
Lighting of the Sanctuary. |
At the font. |
St Augustine’s held an Easter Vigil for the first time in many years.
Photos by Daniel Glackin-McColgan.
Easter Sunday
He is risen! Services celebrate Jesus who died for our sins and then rose again.
St Peter’s, Limpsfield
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St Michael and All Angels, Blackheath
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A cross for the Good Friday service at St Michael and All Angels, Blackheath was made for the first time. The cross was decorated with daffodils during communion at the Easter Sunday service and then moved into the church garden for everyone in the local community to see.
Holy Trinity with St Matthew, Southwark
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Resurrection Sunday.
St Stephen’s School, South Godstone
A new song for Easter.
Children at St Stephen’s School sang a brand new song at their Easter service this year. The service took place at the church that housed the school when it first opened in 1870. The school has grown since it moved out in 1958, but the old building is now only just big enough to fit everyone in! The service itself was planned by the school’s Faith Team – a group of children in Key Stage 2 who have chosen to find out more about their faith, and to help to develop the Christian ethos of the school. The new song was written by the Revd Peter O’Connell, Rector of the parish and a school governor and looks at the events of Easter morning from the perspective of Mary Magdalene.
Just as the Sun was Rising
Just as the sun was rising
I went to where he lay.
To see where he was buried
and by his body pray.
A stone was at the entrance
but it was rolled away.
I thought I would be mourning
but I found hope that day.
I went to find his body;
I went there in despair.
Instead I found an angel
in shining clothes so fair.
He said that he was risen:
He was no longer there
It was so unexpected;
a day beyond compare.
The tomb I found was empty
though I’d seen Jesus slain.
I found my Lord was risen.
He was alive again!
This day was now so joyful
when it began in pain.
I saw the resurrection.
My faith was not in vain.
Tune: Hatherop Castle (used with permission from Josef Weinberger Ltd)
CCLI reference: 7237394
St John The Baptist, New Malden
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The Revd Michael Roper, Vicar is assisted at the altar by young worshipers on Easter Sunday. In an effort to help the younger members of the congregation understand the service the church has a designated family service to which members of the congregation are invited to come and help at the altar. This popular practice has now become an integral part of the once a month family service.
St James, Malden
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‘Bags of fun’ containing free Easter crafts were handed out to over 90 children.
