Worship at St Mary’s

Whether you find yourself drawn to God through sacrament, silence, song, or the timeless language of the Book of Common Prayer, you’ll find a place at St Mary’s.

We offer a rich pattern of worship throughout the week, held in the beauty and stillness of our ancient church. Some services are quiet and reflective, others full of music and movement – all are shaped by prayer, reverence, and welcome.

Below you’ll find our regular rhythm of services. We recommend checking our [calendar] for up-to-date timings, feast days, and any occasional changes.

A priest in green vestments holding a chalice with a communion wafer inside during a religious ceremony in a church.

SUNDAYS

  • 8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) On the 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays

  • 9.45am Sung Eucharist (Common Worship). Every Sunday (check calendar)

  • 12.15pm Holy Communion (BCP) On the 2nd & 4th Sundays

  • 3.30pm Family Service  Monthly on the 1st Sunday

  • 6.00pm Evensong Every Sunday except the 1st
      A traditional service of sung evening prayer from the 1662 Prayer Book:
      – 2nd Sunday: Choral Evensong
      – 3rd Sunday: Evensong with Benediction
      – 4th & 5th Sundays: Sung Evensong

WEEKDAYS

  • Morning Prayer – 9.00am
      Monday to Thursday in the North Chapel

  • Midweek Eucharist – 10.30am on Wednesdays
      – 1st Wednesday: Book of Common Prayer
      – All other Wednesdays: Common Worship

  • Silent Prayer – 4.00pm on Wednesdays
      In the North Chapel
      

What do these terms mean?

  • BCP (Book of Common Prayer): The 1662 prayer book of the Church of England – formal, poetic, and deeply rooted in tradition.

  • Eucharist (or Holy Communion): A central act of Christian worship where we remember Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, and receive bread and wine as signs of his presence.

  • Common Worship: The Church of England’s more contemporary language liturgy, used widely across the country.

  • Evensong: An evening service of sung prayers and scripture, usually with choir music.

  • Benediction: A brief service following Evensong where the consecrated bread is used to bless those present – a quiet moment of reverence and awe.

People dressed in choir robes walking into a church or religious building through an arched doorway.