This service begins at St Bartholomew the Less with a drama performed by the children of the Family Service.

Celebrant: The Reverend Marcus Walker, The Rector
Deacon & Preacher: The Reverend Rosamond McDowell, Associate Priest

Introit: Hosanna to the Son of David – Weelkes
Mass Setting: Communion Service in F – Darke
Passion: according to St Matthew – Victoria
Communion motet: God so loved the world – Stainer

St Bartholomew the Great, also livestreamed

Celebrant & Preacher: The Reverend Marcus Walker, The Rector

This begins the great three services of the ‘Triduum’. On Maundy Thursday we remember, at the same time, the Last Supper, Christ washing his disciples’ feet, the institution of the Holy Communion, Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemene, and Christ’s trial before the Sanhedrin. During this service, the church is stripped of its beauty and, at the end, we go and wait with Christ until midnight in the stillness of the ‘Watch’.

Prelude: Le banquet céleste – Messiaen
Mass Setting: Missa brevis – Leighton
During the foot washing: Wash me throughly – Wesley
Offertory Motet: Ubi caritas – Duruflé
Communion Motets: Jesu, grant me this I pray – Gibbons, arr. Bairstow
Miserere mei – Rihards Dubra

St Bartholomew the Great, also livestreamed

Celebrant: The Reverend Rosamond McDowell, Associate Priest
Preacher: The Reverend Marcus Walker, The Rector

During this part of the ‘Triduum’ we recall Christ’s crucifixion. We hear the Passion according to St John and venerate the Cross. We pray for the world Christ died to save. We consume the last of the Sacrament and leave the church desolate, in silence.

Passion: according to St John – Victoria
The Lamentations: Bairstow
Crux fidelis – John of Portugal
Christus factus est – Bruckner

St Bartholomew the Great, also livestreamed

Celebrant & preacher: The Reverend Marcus Walker, The Rector
Deacon: The Reverend Rosamond McDowell, Associate Priest

We meet outside, in the dusk. A fire is lit, and from it the Paschal Candle. This candle is brought into the church, from which the whole church is slowly lit. The Deacon sings the Exsultet, an ancient chant celebrating Christ’s resurrection. A vigil of readings anticipates the resurrection, which is then proclaimed with the cry “Alleluia, Christ is risen!”. The church is brought back to life with light and the celebration of the Eucharist. This year there will be baptisms and holy water will be used to remind the rest of the congregation of our own Baptismal vows.

Thus the heavens and the earth were made (extract from “In the beginning”) – Copland
Acceptabis sacrificium – Isaac
Vidi aquam – Paul Grady
Sicut cervus – Palestrina
Sequence: Victimæ paschali laudes – Victoria
Mass Setting: Messe Solennelle – Vierne
Offertory Motet: Most glorious Lord of life – Harris
Communion Motet: This joyful Eastertide – Dutch trad. arr. Ledger
Postlude: Incantation pour un jour Saint – Langlais