28 Mar 2024
Churches across St Albans, Harpenden and around the district will shortly be marking two of the Christian Church’s most holy days.
On Good Friday (March 29th ) Christians will be remembering Jesus Christ’s death on a cross, dying for the wrongdoings of our world. Services tend to be reflective and quiet, with a focus on Christ’s suffering and death.
On Easter Sunday (March 31st ), the major theme is celebration, as Christians rejoice in Christ’s resurrection, coming back from death to bring new life – and the opportunity for a new start in life – to everyone who puts their trust in God.
The weekend is the highest point in the Christian calendar, and a special, holy time for all those who seek to follow Christ.
Just as pilgrims have headed to our historic city for hundreds of years, St Albans Cathedral and local churches across the area will be inviting visitors to special services on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, with music and words that complement the mood of the day.
Many church services are listed here, with many others being held across the area.
All churches welcome visitors and have activities taking place on Sundays and throughout the week. Many churches are also open during the week for private prayer and reflection. You’re very welcome to visit any of the area’s churches this Easter.
Rev Peter Crumpler
Associate Minister, St Paul’s Church, St Albans
St Leonard’s Church
Church End, Sandridge, AL4 9DL
Good Friday: 19am, craft church for families with egg hunt, in church only; 2pm final hour service in church only.
Easter Sunday: 10am Holy Communion with bonfire, eggs and refreshments, in church only.
Verso Vineyard Church
Brick Knoll Park, Ashley Road, St Albans, AL1 5UG
Good Friday: 12 noon, meditation in church only.
Easter Sunday: 9.30am celebration, online and in church; 11.30am, celebration, in church only.
St Albans Cathedral
Sumpter Yard, St Albans AL1 1BY
Good Friday: 10am a Good Friday journey for children, in church only; 12noon Preaching of the Passion, online and in church; 1.30pm The Liturgy of Good Friday, online and in church; 8pm Unity at the Cross, in church only.
Easter Sunday: 8am Easter Eucharist, in church only; 9.30am Easter Eucharist, online and in church; 11.15am Easter Choral Eucharist, in church only; 3.30pm Evensong, in church only.
St Helen’s Church, Wheathampstead
High Street, Wheathampstead AL4 8AA
Good Friday: 9.45am Walk of Witness followed by Good Friday outdoor service; 2pm Good Friday reflective service, in church only.
Easter Sunday: 10am Easter Communion followed by egg hunt, online and in church.
Christ Church, Harpenden
Meeting in Roundwood Park School,Roundwood Park, Harpenden AL5 3EA
4 Vaughan Road Harpenden AL5 4ED
www.christchurchharpenden.org.uk
Good Friday: 10am, reflective service with Communion in church only.
Easter Sunday: 10.30am, Easter celebration all-age service, in church only.
St Mary’s Church, Marshalswick
1 Sherwood Avenue, AL4 9QA
Good Friday: 11am craft activities, music and prayers for all ages, in church only; 2pm An Hour at the Cross, in church only.
Easter Sunday: 6.30am dawn Communion service and Easter fire in church only; 10am all together family celebration in church only.
St Paul’s Church, Fleetville
Corner of Hatfield Road and Blandford Road, St Albans AL1 4JP
Good Friday: 10am, a quiet service reflecting on Christ’s death, in church only.
Easter Sunday: 8.30am Holy communion service online and in church; 10.30am Easter celebration with Communion, online and in church.
St John’s Church, Harpenden
5 St Johns Road, Harpenden. AL5 1DJ
Good Friday: 10am, all-age service in church only; 2pm, the Good Friday Liturgy with Veneration of the Cross, in church only.
Easter Sunday: 10am all-age Eucharist followed by Easter egg hunt, online and in church.
St Nicholas’ Church, Harpenden
Church Green, Harpenden, AL5 2TP
Good Friday: 10.30am Ecumenical Walk of Witness starting from Rothamsted Park, in church only; 12noon, Liturgy of the Cross, online and in church.
Easter Sunday: 8am Holy Communion in church only; 9.30am first Communion of Easter, online and in church.
Spicer Street Church
Spicer Street, St Albans AL3 4PQ
Good Friday: 10.30am, Good Friday service, online and in church
Easter Sunday: 9.30am, Easter Day service with Sunday School and creche, online and in church; 11.15am, Easter Day service with Sunday School and creche, in church only; 6pm, evening service, online and in church.
Hatfield Road Methodist Church
133B Hatfield Road, St Albans AL1 4JX
Good Friday: 10.30am, online and in church.
Easter Sunday: 10.30am, celebration online and in church.
St Albans URC – Homewood Road
Homewood Road, St Albans, AL1 4BH
Good Friday: 2pm, short contemplative service, in church only.
Easter Sunday: 10.30am celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, including Family Communion, online and in church.
St Alban and St Stephen RC Church
14 Beaconsfield Road, St Albans AL1 3RB
Good Friday: 9.30am office of readings and morning prayer, online and in church; 10.30am children’s Way of the Cross, online and in church; 3pm Liturgy of the Passion, online and in church; 6.30pm, Stations of the Cross, online and in church; 7.20pm, Walk of Witness from SSAS to St Albans Cathedral, in church only.
Easter Sunday: 8am Easter Mass, online and in church; 9am Easter Mass, in church only; 9.30am Easter Mass, online and in church; 11.30am Easter Mass, online and in church; 6pm Easter Mass, online and in church.
St Peter’s Church, Gustard Wood
Lamer Lane Gustard Wood AL4 8RT
Easter Sunday: 5.30am Son Rise service followed by breakfast, in church only
All Saints’ Church, Harpenden
129 Station Road, Harpenden, AL5 4UU
Good Friday: 10am, service in the garden, hot cross buns at Batford Methodist, in church only.
Easter Sunday: 6am first Communion of Easter, in church only; 10am family Communion, online and in church.
Dagnall Street Baptist Church
Upper Dagnall Street, St Albans, AL3 5EE
Good Friday: 10.30am, worship in church only.
Easter Sunday: 10.30am, worship in church only.
St Mary’s Church, Kinsbourne Green
Luton Road, Harpenden, AL5 3QE
Good Friday: 9am Stations of the Cross in church only.
Easter Sunday: 9.30am family Communion online and in church.
Ridgeway Church, St Albans
Meeting at Sandringham School, The Ridgeway, St Albans AL4 9NX
Good Friday: 11am, short reflective service in church only.
Easter Sunday: 10am, Easter Day celebration, online and in church.
