The Rev'd Philip Averay, Ministry Area Leader for the Severn Wye Ministry Area, has produced a detailed list of Holy Week Services for the area. The services run from 2nd to 8th April 2023.

Palm Sunday
10am - Joint Service with Chepstow Methodists, Starts at Methodist Church with procession through town, finishing with Eucharist in St Mary's Priory

Holy Monday
7pm - Service of Compline at Shirenewton Church
Compline: The ancient office of Compline derives its name from a Latin word meaning ‘completion’ (completorium). It is above all a service of quietness and reflection before rest at the end of the day. It is most effective when the ending is indeed an ending, without additions, conversation or noise.

Holy Tuesday
7pm -Taize Service at St Mary's Priory, Chepstow
Taizé (pronounced: tay-zay) is a prayerful form of music known for its simple, yet rich and meditative character. Taizé music often takes the structure of an ostinato (a simple melody that repeats over and over) and is meant to serve as a kind of musical centering prayer.

Holy Wednesday
7pm - Eucharist Service at St Arvan's Church
Holy Eucharist: The Eucharist is at the heart of Christian worship. It is celebrated by Christians around the world as a memorial of the death and resurrection of Jesus, in response to his words at the final meal he shared with his disciples, ‘Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the Eucharist, God invites us to his table as a foretaste of the  heavenly banquet which he has prepared for people of all

Maundy Thursday
7pm - Tenebrae Service at Mathern Church
A tenebrae service typically takes place in a dark room lit by a number of candles. A series of Scripture readings chronicles Jesus's final week, ending with his burial. After each reading a candle is snuffed out, until only the Christ candle remains lit.

Good Friday
11am - Stations of the Cross at St Pierre Church
The Stations of the Cross have formed part of Christian devotion at Passiontide for many centuries because they enable us to engage actively with the path of suffering walked by Jesus. They originated when early Christians visited Jerusalem and wanted to follow literally in the footsteps of Jesus, tracing the path from Pilate’s house to Calvary. They would pause for prayer and devotion at various points. Eventually, those pilgrims brought the practice back to their home countries and ever since then Christians of differing traditions have used this form of devotion.

Holy Saturday
7.30pm - Easter Vigil Service at St Arvans Church
Easter Vigil, also called the Paschal Vigil or the Great Vigil of Easter, is the first official celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus & renewing baptismal vows. It is held in the hours of darkness between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Day – most commonly in the evening of Holy Saturday or midnight – and is the first celebration of Easter, days traditionally being considered to begin at sunset.

For other services across the Ministry Area please check with the individual churches