Ash Wednesday, 18th February 2026 

We invite you to join us for our special services for Ash Wednesday as we mark the beginning of Lent. Lent is a season of fasting for Christians. We remember that Jesus fasted in the wilderness, and many choose to give up something - alcohol, chocolate, social media - for the forty days of Lent. Lent is also a season where we seek to draw closer in prayer and worship to the God who loves us.

The Ash Wednesday service is a sombre yet hopeful service. The Christian gospel begins with God's good creation, but on Ash Wednesday we remember that this good creation is disfigured by our human sin, which brought suffering and death into our world. Ashes were a sign of repentance, and we spend time calling to mind our sin and asking God to forgive us. If we want, we can receive an ash cross on our hands or forehead as a sign of God's forgiveness. And here is our hope: that God's steadfast love and mercy is stronger than our human sin and that Jesus, who lived our human life, was tested in every way just as we are, lived a life without sin and died so that we can be forgiven. The Communion part of our evening service recalls the death and resurrection of Jesus, and our future hope of a new creation where God will put right everything that is now wrong in the world.

We will be gathering for worship on Ash Wednesday at 4pm for Afternoon Prayer and at 7.30pm for a service of Holy Communion. All are welcome.