In case you hadn’t realised, there’s more to Easter than a bank holiday double whammy and copious amounts of chocolate. There’s also the small matter of Jesus’ death and resurrection. So why not take a bit of time out of your super-sized weekend and attend an Easter service at one of these churches.
St Paul's Cathedral
It’s the grand-daddy of London churches, Christopher Wren’s masterpiece on the Thames and a national symbol. The enormous cathedral will be playing host to more Easter services than you could shake a thurible at.
18th April: Maundy Thursday Liturgy of the Day and Watch until Midnight – 18:00 – 23:45
19th April: The Good Friday Liturgy – 12:00 – 15:00 / The Three Hours – 12:00 – 15:00
20th April: The Easter Liturgy with Baptism, Confirmation and the First Eucharist of Easter – 18:00
21st April (Easter Day): Dawn Eucharist – 05:45 / Holy Communion – 08:00 / Choral Mattins – 10:15 / Sung Eucharist – 11:30 / Festal Evensong – 15:15 / Eucharist – 18:00
Where: St. Paul's Churchyard, The City, EC4M 8AD
Website: www.stpauls.co.uk
St Helen's, Bishopsgate
It turns out that there’s more to St Helen’s, Bishopsgate than Insta shots juxtaposing the ancient and modern. There’s actual church services too. And in a further meeting of old and new, the relatively relaxed style at St Helen’s is combined with a carefully traditional reading of the gospels. All well worth checking out.
19th April: Good Friday service: 10:30
21st April: Easter Sunday service: 10:30
Where: Great St Helen's, The City, EC3A 6AT
Website: www.st-helens.org.uk
St Martin In The Fields
Not so much in the fields, and more like in the centre of one of the busiest thoroughfares in one of the most urban cities in the world, St Martin In The Fields is super trad and has a rather nice café.
18th April: Maundy Thursday Liturgy – 18:30 – 19:30
21st April: Easter Eucharist: 10:00 – 11:00 / Choral Evensong – Easter Day: 17:00 – 18:00
Where: Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, WC2N 4JJ
Website: www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org
Holy Trinity, Brompton
A slightly different vibe at HTB, the epicentre of all things Alpha and a chance to experience Easter in perhaps a more chilled out way than you’ve known. The experiential services are always vibrant and exciting while still centring on the real point of Easter.
April 19th: Good Friday Service – 11:00 – 12:15
April 21st: Easter Sunday Service – 09:30 / Easter Sunday Service – 11:30 / Easter Sunday Service – 17:00 / Easter Sunday Service – 19:00
Where: Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW7 1JA
Website: www.htb.org
St Michael's, Chester Square
At the heart of Belgravia, one of London’s poshest addresses, enjoy a traditional Easter Sunday church in a gorgeous setting with a faithful depiction of easter and a wholesome family setting.
April 19th: Good Friday Family Service – 10:30 – 11:15 / Good Friday Meditation: 12:30 – 15:00
April 21st: Easter Sunday Service – 10:30 – 11:30
Where: Chester Square, Belgravia, SW1W 9EF
Website: www.stmichaelschurch.org.uk
