Lent and Easter 2026

The Crucifixion from the East window of St Mary's Church

Since early days Christians have observed Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter Day - the time of our Lord’s Passion and Resurrection - with great devotion. Lent is the season of preparation for this great festival, and is traditionally a season of prayer, study and penitence. In the death of Jesus, we see the seriousness of sin and the cost of our forgiveness. Hearing the call to repentance, we renew our commitment to seek to be faithful disciples.

LENT COURSES
 

Travelling Well Together

This Lent course is being hosted by St Mary's.  This is open to the rest of the Team and ecumenically within Saffron Walden.
Being a faithful Christian in a diverse Church during changing and challenging times is not easy.  The temptation is to withdraw into a "holy huddle", pull up the drawbridge, and turn our backs on the world outside.  Through a series of reflections, using Lectio Divina, we will be considering how we might better be the people of God together and live out our faith. This course is taken from the Chelmsford Diocesan resources for "Travelling Well Together" and comes with Bishop Guli's recommendation.

Rev'd Hilary Walker will offer six sessions, starting on Ash Wednesday 18 February at 2.00pm in the Parish Rooms.
Rev'd Jeremy Trew will offer six sessions, starting on Thursday 12th February, at 7.30pm in the North Chapel.  These will be set in the context of Night Prayer.

Sign up sheets will be available soon.

Get outside for Lent

A time to reflect and contemplate using music, art and poetry as stimuli. On Wednesdays 4th, 18th and 25th March from 10-11am at All Saints, Wimbish. Contact Pete Gray 07901 946440 for more information.

Special Services at St Mary’s Church in Lent and Holy Week

Ash Wednesday 18th February 2026 - The start of Lent
8.00am Morning Prayer
9.30am Holy Communion with imposition of ashes*
7.30pm Choral Eucharist with imposition of ashes*
*The imposition of ashes  involves making a cold ash mark on the forehead as a solemn reminder of human mortality and the need for reconciliation with God.

Mothering Sunday 15th March

8.00am Holy Communion BCP  This service will be livestreamed YouTube link:  TBA
10.30am Mothering Sunday Family Service. Children particularly welcome at this service.  

HOLY WEEK 2026

We warmly welcome you to to join us during this most special week of the Christian Year

Palm Sunday 29th March

8.00am Holy Communion BCP. 
10.30am Holy Communion with Passion Reading This service will be livestreamed - YouTube link: TBA
6.30pm Devotional Offering - Mozart Requiem in D minor, K. 626. The work will be performed by St Mary's Church Choir. Admission is free with a retiring collection. All are most welcome. Download a flyer here.
 

Monday 30th March

9.30am Holy Communion
7.30pm Compline and Reflection
 

Tuesday 31st March

9.30am Holy Communion
5.00pm Evening Prayer on Zoom
7.30pm Compline and Reflection
 

Wednesday 1st April

8.00am Morning Prayer
9.30am Holy Communion including prayers for wholeness and healing
7.30pm Compline and Reflection
 

Maundy Thursday 2nd April

9.30am Holy Communion
7.30pm Choral Eucharist
 

Good Friday 3rd April

10.30 am Walk of Witness starting at URC Abbey Lane and finishing at St Mary’s
2.00 pm Hour at the Cross: quiet prayer and structured devotions
 

Easter Sunday 5th April

6.00am Dawn Holy Communion. Traditionally held outside the church, weather permitting. Followed by breakfast.
8.00am BCP Holy Communion
10.30am Holy Communion. This service will be livestreamed - YouTube link: TBA   The order of service will be available here and includes the liturgy, the hymns  and the relevant musical settings.
6.30 pm Choral Evensong

Christ is Risen - He is Risen Indeed, Hallelujah

Mark Chapter 16

"1.When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid."