Services at the Abbey Church
Sunday Services
- 8 a.m.
- Holy Communion: a quiet, reflective communion service with sermon, based on the 1928 prayer book. It takes place in the Lady Chapel.
- 10.30 a.m.
- Parish Eucharist (2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays in the month): a Common Worship communion service with hymns, some parts are sung by the congregation and choir. The service has a formal structure but encompasses moments of informality and humour! For children, there are Sunday Clubs that meet for the first part of the service, plus a crèche for 0-3 year olds.
- The Church has a policy for children to be admitted to communion before confirmation. For more information about this, please speak to one of the clergy team.
- Family Service (1st Sunday): a service very much orientated to all ages using a mixture of traditional and contemporary hymns. The service lasts approximately 45 minutes with a talk and children's involvement and is aided by our Choristers with piano and organ. Based on a Common Worship service format.
- All Age Communion (3rd Sunday): a service that does what the title says – a service for all the church family. In style it is an informal communion supported by the Choristers using traditional and contemporary hymns and songs. With Bible reading and a talk. There is provision for children through a period of specific teaching for them and also a craft table after communion. There is also a crèche facility. The service lasts about an hour.
- We invite you to stay for refreshments and fellowship after the 10.30am service.
- 6.30 p.m.
- Choral Communion (1st Sunday): a service using traditional language from Common Worship with prayer book format. The service is led by our Choir using music from various classic composers. Includes sermon and hymns.
- Choral Evensong (2nd and 4th Sundays): a service (main church) using the 1928 prayer book for evening prayer led by the Choir. With psalm, hymns, canticles, anthem and sermon.
- Healing Eucharist (3rd Sunday): a Common Worship communion service with hymns, silence (a time for reflection or prayer), sermon and laying on of hands for healing. The laying on of hands takes place at the altar rail and is completely confidential - an opportunity for prayer for yourself or others. In style, a reflective and supportive service.
- Choral Compline (Occasional Sundays): a quiet and reflective service using the ancient monastic service of Compline, which includes hymns, psalm and a short thought or reflection. The congregation and Choir sing parts of the service. The service lasts about 45 minutes.
- Taize (Occasional Sundays): this is a service adapted from those of the Taize Community. This service of evening worship invokes some of the core characteristics of the Taize prayer service with plenty of silence, space for contemplation and the chanting of songs. The service lasts about 30-45 minutes.
Weekday Services
Morning Prayer: 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. This service takes place in the Crypt and is usually taken from Common Worship. During Advent and Lent it includes communion as well. Lasts 30 minutes.
- Tuesday
- Market Day Service: 10.30 a.m. in the main church. Designed as a thoughtful midweek service for those coming to the town for the market. A simple service with a talk, prayers and hymns. The service lasts about 45 minutes and is followed by refreshments.
- Unity Chapel Prayers: 12 noon. Led by the different churches in Waltham Abbey, this service takes a simple form with prayers, thought and song for the week. Its focus is on the unity of the church and the world. Lasts 20 minutes.
- Wednesday
- Holy Communion: 10.00 a.m. in the main Church. A 1928 Book of Common Prayer communion service. Lasts 35 minutes and is followed by refreshments.
- Thursday
- Lunchtime 105 (2nd Thursday of the month): Lasting no more than 30 minutes, this is as simple a service as possible. Using music, silence, thought and laying on of hands – we offer this as a time for refreshment and re-energising.
Special Services
Weddings
We welcome enquiries about weddings, please contact the Parish Office for details. See also our Wedding Guide.
Renewal of Wedding Vows
Take place throughout the week. Please contact the Parish Office for details.
Baptisms
Baptisms usually take place on the first or third Sunday of the month after the main Sunday morning service. Enquiries please to the Parish Office.
Funerals
These usually take place on weekdays. Please make enquiries with the Parish Office.
Memorial Service
This takes place twice a year on a Sunday in spring and autumn (for dates and times, please see below or in the weekly notices; alternatively contact the Parish Office). A time to remember the departed who were close to us. All welcome.
This month
January | February
January
- Sunday 4th – Second Sunday of Christmas; Epiphany
-
8.00 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. Family Service
6.30 p.m. Choral Communion
- music
- Mozart Missa Brevis in D
- Mendelssohn There shall a star (from Christus)
- Sunday 11th – First Sunday of Epiphany; The Baptism of Christ
-
8.00 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. Parish Eucharist (Common Worship)
- music
- Kyrie: Inwood
- Sanctus: Inwood
- Agnus Dei: Oldroyd Mass of the Quiet Hour
- Gardner Tomorrow shall be my dancing day
6.30 p.m. Choral Evensong (Book of Common Prayer)
- music
- Responses: Ayleward
- Canticles: Gibbons Short service
- Tallis O Lord, give thy Holy Spirit
- Sunday 18th – Second Sunday of Epiphany
-
8.00 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. All Age Communion
- music
- Agnus Dei: Jolly Resonet in laudibus
6.30 p.m. Holy Communion with Laying on of Hands for Healing
- Sunday 25th – Third Sunday of Epiphany; The Conversion of St Paul
-
8.00 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. Parish Eucharist (Common Worship)
- music
- Gloria: Jones
- Sanctus: Inwood
- Agnus Dei: Jackson Communion service in G
- Harris Holy is the true light
6.30 p.m. Choral Evensong (Book of Common Prayer)
- music
- Responses: Radcliffe
- Canticles: Noble in B minor
- Bullock Give us the wings of faith
February
- Sunday 1st – Fourth Sunday of Epiphany; Candlemas
-
8.00 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. Benifice Candlemas Service
6.30 p.m. Choral Communion
- music
- Palestrina Missa “Aeterna Christi munera”
- Sunday 8th – Second Sunday before Lent
-
8.00 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. Parish Eucharist (Common Worship)
6.30 p.m. Choral Evensong (Book of Common Prayer)
- Sunday 15th – Sunday next before Lent
-
8.00 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. All Age Communion
6.30 p.m. Holy Communion with Laying on of Hands for Healing
- Wednesday 18th – Ash Wednesday
-
10.00 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) with imposition of ashes
8.00 p.m. Sung Eucharist with imposition of ashes
- Sunday 22nd – First Sunday of Lent
-
8.00 a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.30 a.m. Parish Eucharist (Common Worship)
6.30 p.m. Choral Evensong (Book of Common Prayer)
