Bradford Cathedral Announces Holy Week and Easter Services

Programme of Services and Events from Palm Sunday to Easter Day

Bradford Cathedral will present a series of services and musical events throughout Holy Week and Easter, beginning on Palm Sunday, 29 March. The programme includes traditional liturgies, choral performances, and opportunities for reflection, with most services open to the public and some streamed online.

Palm Sunday: Eucharist and Handel’s Messiah

The week will start with the 10:30am Palm Sunday Eucharist, which will feature a dramatic reading of The Passion according to St Matthew integrated within the Holy Communion service. Later that evening at 7pm, the Cathedral Choir will perform Handel’s Messiah, a three-part oratorio depicting Christ’s Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. The performance will be conducted by Organist and Director of Music Geoffrey Woollatt, with William Campbell accompanying on the Cathedral Organ.

Choral Evensong and Lamentations of Jeremiah

On Monday 30 March and Tuesday 31 March, the Cathedral Choir will sing Thomas Tallis’ ‘The Lamentations of Jeremiah’ during Choral Evensong. This two-part composition sets verses from the Biblical book of Lamentations to music and is traditionally performed during Holy Week. The service will include a gradual extinguishing of candles as a remembrance of Christ’s suffering.

Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Services

• Maundy Thursday (2 April, 7pm): The Liturgy of Maundy Thursday will include a re-enactment of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, the sharing of bread and wine, and an opportunity to keep watch at the Altar of Repose until midnight.
• Good Friday (3 April): Two services will observe the traditional three hours of the crucifixion:
  • 12 noon – Meditations around the Cross, led by Revd Duncan Milwain, featuring readings, reflections, music, and silence.
  • 1:30pm – Liturgy of Good Friday, including choral music, silence, the reading of The Passion according to St John, Holy Communion, and the symbolic burying of the cross in St Aidan’s Chapel.

Holy Saturday and Easter Day

• Holy Saturday (4 April, 1pm–2:30pm): A ‘Messy Easter’ service aimed at all ages will explore Holy Week events and celebrate Easter with crafts, Bible stories, songs, drama, and food. Attendance requires booking in advance due to limited spaces.
• Holy Saturday Evening: The Easter Vigil will include readings of ancient prophecy, the lighting of a fire, and Holy Communion. The Interim Dean of Bradford, Revd Johnathan Triffit, will preach at this service.
• Easter Day (5 April): Services will be held at 8am (Holy Communion from the Book of Common Prayer), 10:30am (Choral Eucharist with the Rt Revd Toby Howarth, Bishop of Bradford, leading and preaching), and 3:30pm (Choral Evensong). Some services will be streamed online.

Further information, including service times and online streaming details, is available on the Bradford Cathedral website. The site also provides educational resources and videos related to Holy Week and Easter.