Here’s another positive sign of better days to come as it seems some ‘fitting out’ activity has been spotted at Bath Abbey.
Behind the screens a multi-million pound project has been underway to stabilise the church floor, recondition and relay the memorial stone surface and build new facilities to benefit church staff – especially the choir – and the visiting public.
Looks like things are ever-inching towards the end of this mammoth undertaking – through l am hearing – when it comes to completing structural work – we’re talking late summer rather than early.
Meanwhile, the Abbey is delighted to be welcoming back its congregation in time for Easter celebrations as it reopens for in-person worship from Palm Sunday (March 28).
In support of the national lockdown, the 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 (28 March) 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, the 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 from including for most of the Holy Week and Easter services.
Palm Sunday, 28th March
10.15 Holy Communion with Choir
Join us in the Abbey, a limited number of tickets through Eventbrite OR watch live with us on Church Online
Monday – Wednesday 29-31st 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
Join us in the Abbey, a limited number of tickets through Eventbrite OR watch with us live on Church Online
Good Friday, 2nd April
12-2pm Abbey open for prayer
You 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 us on Zoom, please subscribe to the Abbey Community Newssheet or contact office@bathabbey.org
2-3pm Good Friday Liturgy
Join us in the Abbey, limited number of tickets through Eventbrite OR watch with us 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
We are delighted to welcome the Bishop of Taunton, who is preaching at both our 9.30 and 11.30 Services of Holy Communion on Easter Day. Join us in the Abbey, limited number of tickets available through Eventbrite, or watch with us live on Church Online.
11.30am Sung Eucharist
We are delighted to welcome the Bishop of Taunton, who is preaching at both our 9.30 and 11.30 Services of Holy Communion on Easter Day. Join us in the Abbey, limited number of tickets available through Eventbrite.
Services will also be live streamed on the Abbey’s website. 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.
