Bath Abbey is set to welcome back its congregation in time for Easter celebrations as it reopens for in-person worship from Palm Sunday on 28th March.
Bath Abbey | © Visit Bath
In line with the national lockdown, Bath Abbey moved all communal worship and services online at the start of this year, with its church building remaining open only for private prayers.
All churches including the Abbey were also closed from March to June last year, which makes the return of in person services this Easter even more significant.
Revd Canon Guy Bridgewater, Rector of Bath Abbey, said: “After all the painful challenges of this last year, we look forward eagerly to celebrating the life-renewing hope of Easter.
“It will be a great joy to celebrate Christ’s victory over death, as a church family back in the Abbey once again – especially as we weren’t able to come together at Easter last year.
“We’re also hoping that our worshippers will share our delight in seeing the Abbey much changed since they last were here.
“With the floor now fully restored, the new eco-heating installed and the hoardings inside the Abbey taken down, the beauty of our renewed worship space is simply overwhelming.
“We are beginning to see the fruit of all the amazing vision, prayer, planning, generosity and skilled hard work poured into resourcing the future of the Abbey and its ministry. What a fantastic way to celebrate Easter!”
Palm Sunday will see the Abbey re-opening its doors for public worship for the first time since December.
In order to keep everyone as safe as possible, services will have reduced capacity with all the appropriate Covid-19 safety measures in place.
Although the Abbey cannot enjoy a return of the full choir just yet, there will be a small choir singing every week including for most of the Holy Week and Easter services.
Palm Sunday, 28th March
10.15am – Holy Communion with Choir
Attend the Abbey via a limited number of tickets through Eventbrite or watch live on Church Online.
Monday – Wednesday 29th – 31st March
12noon – Daily Prayer on Zoom
7.30pm – Said Compline on Zoom
Maundy Thursday, 1st April
12noon – Daily Prayer on Zoom
7.30pm – Holy Communion with Choir
Attend the Abbey via a limited number of tickets through Eventbrite or watch live on Church Online.
Good Friday, 2nd April
12 – 2pm – Abbey open for prayer
The public are invited to drop in any time between 12-2pm for private prayer and quiet reflection.
12 – 2pm – Good Friday Meditation Prayer on Zoom
For details of how to join on Zoom, subscribe to the Abbey Community Newssheet or contact [email protected].
2 – 3pm Good Friday Liturgy
Attend the Abbey via a limited number of tickets through Eventbrite or watch live on Church Online.
Easter Day, 4th April
7.30am – Holy Communion
No tickets required for this service in the Abbey.
9.30am – Parish Communion
Bath Abbey will welcome the Bishop of Taunton, who is preaching at both the 9.30 and 11.30 Services of Holy Communion on Easter Day. Attend the Abbey via a limited number of tickets through Eventbrite or watch live on Church Online.
11.30am – Sung Eucharist
Services will also be live-streamed on the Abbey’s website.
For those wishing to attend in person, seats are available to book via Eventbrite, to ensure they are run in a Covid-safe and compliant way, and to ensure social distancing.
Details are available on the Abbey’s website: www.bathabbey.org.
