Easter Services 2026 at Bath (Weston), Bath and North East Somerset

What five lovely services we had recently!

ASH WEDNESDAY evening a service was held, bringing our palm crosses from last year to burn in the fire pit ready for a cross to be marked on our foreheads. A reasonable number of people came along to begin their time of Lent. Rev Lorraine held Lent courses for six weeks, either on Zoom or face to face if you preferred. This course refreshed our minds of Jesus’s final journey to Jerusalem.

PALM SUNDAY the entrance to this service was a lot different than normal. All of a sudden, you heard the sound of hoofs coming through the door and low and behold a donkey appeared clip clopping along and of course it was our minister dressed up in a blow-up donkey suit. This amused the congregation, and the service started, but the donkey suit did not stay on long. The readings for most of the services were from Bear Grylls’ book ‘The Greatest Story ever told’. During the service one of our regular attendees was made a member of the church, which was a happy occasion, and mixed well within the service.

MAUNDY THURSDAY service we were joined by the congregations from the Western District, plus the Anglican Church in Weston Village (Weston All Saints). Halfway through the service people were invited to have their feet or hands washed. This was going to be a challenge: we had four chairs, four bowls, flannels in baskets to dry feet plus jugs of warm water with bubble liquid. The bowls were emptied each time, plus one to be brought in to replace, plus refilling jugs. Rev Lorraine, Rev Jane, Tom Yacomem (Rector of All Saints) and Rev Emma King (Curate at All Saints), did the feet washing. It all went like a dream and most people took part. At the end of the service the lights were dimmed and everyone left in silence, all very moving!

GOOD FRIDAY WALK OF WITNESS was also held at our church this year. The walk started from the other end of the village at Weston All Saints church, and people were given a small stone to carry. Three crosses were carried and then fixed to the railings at the front of church. The weather was not on our side so could not have the service outside as normal, and inside it was. We had over 100 people at the service – it was wonderful to see all these people just coming in with their dogs, children in pushchairs: just amazing! Also, it was wonderful to hear the church full of singing voices. The stones that were carried by the people on the walk were asked to place them at the base of the cross to relieve them of any burdens that they may have. Rev Lorraine had put prayer stations all around the church (Good Friday prayer reflections) which had different items that represented the people who had been on Jesus’s journey to Easter morning. You could take an item from each table or a choice of your own home. Refreshments of buttered hot cross buns were given out with tea/coffee in the hall after the service.

EASTER DAY started with an early morning service at 7.30am, but again the weather was not kind to us, so had to be inside. This was well attended even though it was a very early start for some. Well, it may have been because a cooked breakfast was provided, which was enjoyed by all as well as the service. After everything was cleared away it was then time for our 11am service, which was also well attended, nothing like Good Friday though!

Readings again were from Bear Grylls’ book. It was a Happy Service with lovely hymns to end our journey from the beginning of Lent to the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

From the congregation we would like to thank Rev Lorraine for all her hard work and time putting all these services together. It’s not an easy job: there is usually some obstacle in the way, but everything went well. So thank you Lorraine, you always put a smile on our faces one way or another.

Sr Carole Young