Thaxted Services

You will be welcomed at the door and given the books you need for the service and shown where to sit. We get many visitors to Thaxted and you are particularly invited to come and take part in a service in our wonderful building.

Our main service every Sunday takes place at this time. It takes the form of a Eucharist (Holy Communion) service with hymns, anthem and sermon using modern language from Common Worship and lasts just over the hour. Here in Thaxted, with its Anglo-Catholic tradition, the service is known by many as the Mass (which is derived from the Latin missa, meaning ‘sending out’). This tradition values the importance of the sacrament (the bread and wine) and emphasises the mystery and wonder of God. Hence the use of music, bells and incense during the service. The combination of these elements with the dramatic and inspiring building leads to a really meaningful worship experience. All children are welcome. We have a children’s corner for young children with books, toys and colouring materials. Members of the church will help parents as required. Refreshments are provided after the service so that we can all chat and exchange news. Please do stay for a while.

Our church wants to welcome more families, children and newcomers. So, normally on the 4 th Sunday in the month at 11.00am, we have a rather more informal, slightly shorter, eucharist service, with songs, stories and activities for the children. We call this Open Doors to make sure that everyone, of every age, feels able to come. Look out for the banner outside the week before. Refreshments follow the service and families often stay for a while afterwards and enjoy each other’s company.

A quiet, reflective said Mass lasting 35 minutes. We use Common Worship on the 1 st and 3 rd Sundays and the traditional Book of Common Prayer service on the 2 nd , 4 th and 5 th Sundays.

A quiet, reflective said Mass in the Lady Chapel lasting 30 minutes using Common Worship. Refreshments are available afterwards.

There are occasional evening services, sometime traditional Evensong, or a more modern reflective service of words and music. Details will be published separately when they occur.

There are often special services for festivals, especially at Christmas and Easter. Details will be published in good time.