Holy Week begins at Norwich Cathedral

A Palm Sunday procession through the city and a beautiful performance of the St John Passion by the Cathedral Choir marked the beginning of Holy Week at Norwich Cathedral.

It was the start of a busy programme of services and events open to all at Norwich Cathedral this week as we journey towards Easter Sunday this coming weekend.

The Dean of Norwich, the Very Revd Dr Andrew Braddock, said: “Holy Week takes us to the heart of the Christian faith. In Jesus’ death on the cross, God radically identifies with the suffering of the world. In Jesus’ resurrection, pain and death are overcome by love and hope.”

On Sunday morning, Norwich Cathedral’s Clergy and Choir joined members of St Peter Mancroft Church outside The Forum for the traditional Litany of the Palms before processing through Norwich. Accompanied by a donkey, the procession travelled along the city’s streets before arriving at Norwich Cathedral for the 10.30am Sung Eucharist.

Saturday evening saw Norwich Cathedral Choir and Norwich Baroque join together to perform Bach’s musical masterpiece St John Passion in the Cathedral Nave.

Today (Monday 30 March) Clergy from across the Diocese of Norwich gathered at the Cathedral for the Chrism Eucharist meanwhile the first of the Cathedral’s Holy Week reflections and musical meditations are taking place this evening.

Holy Week Reflections led by the Revd Dr Cally Hammond will take place at 7pm Eucharists on Monday 30 March, Tuesday 31 March and Wednesday 1 April and at 1pm on Good Friday.

The evening reflections will also link to musical meditations which follow at 8pm. Monday’s musical meditation will see Norwich Cathedral’s Master of Music Ashley Grote play organ music by Bach for Holy Week. On Tuesday the Cathedral’s Senior Girl Choristers, with string accompaniment, will perform Pergolesi’s beautiful setting of the Stabat Mater, and on Wednesday Norwich Cathedral Chamber Choir will perform William Lloyd-Webber’s Cantata, a meditation on the Passion of Christ.

As we move closer to Easter Sunday, the times for Norwich Cathedral’s main services are as follows:

Maundy Thursday (2 April)

Eucharist of the Last Supper, 7pm

Good Friday (3 April)

At the Foot of the Cross, 11am

Good Friday Meditation, 1pm

Solemn Liturgy, 2pm

Holy Saturday (4 April)

Easter Vigil and Confirmations, 8pm

Easter Sunday (5 April)

Festal Eucharist, 10.30am

Festal Evensong, 3.30pm

On Easter Monday (6 April), David Dunnett, the Cathedral’s Organist Emeritus, will give a free organ recital at 11am.