Weekly Email – Palm Sunday
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Dear friends,
Holy Week begins on Sunday and we enter into the celebration of the Lord’s Paschal Sacrifice through a series of some of the most important liturgies of the Christian year.
On Sunday, we will gather at 11.00 am at Oxford Market, the small pedestrian square where Great Titchfield Street meets Oxford Street. There we will have our palm branches blessed and process into church, remembering and enacting the Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
If it is raining, we will simply gather in church. May I suggest that you get to church with plenty of time to spare on Sunday, so that you are ready for all eventualities if we have to change arrangements at the last minute?
We are very pleased to have with us as our Holy Week preacher Fr Jeremy Haselock. He was until his recent retirement Canon Precentor of Norwich Cathedral, and is currently Associate Priest at St Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield. He will preach on Sunday morning, and then at all the great liturgies of the week. We are grateful that he will be with us.
In the evening of Palm Sunday, there will then be a special liturgy entitled, “Mysterium Paschale.” This service represents a bit of a gear change from the emotion, movement, and power of the morning’s High Mass. It is offered as an opportunity to reflect in a more meditative way on the mysteries of our salvation. It will take the form of a cycle of readings, music and hymns (not unlike a carol service in structure), taking us through the events of Holy Week, and finishing with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Do make an effort to attend what will be a beautiful liturgy and bring any friends whom you think may be interested in coming.
As we make our way through Holy Week, please note that there will be no 12 noon Mass until Easter Week. On Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, we will gather in the evening at 6.30 pm for a Low Mass with homily. In the time before the Mass, it will be possible for you to make your confession, if you wish, to Fr Haselock or one of the parish clergy.
One of the most beautiful liturgies of Holy Week offered at All Saints’ is the traditional office of Tenebrae. This is an ancient liturgy of light and darkness sung by the choir of All Saints’. In origin, the liturgy is the anticipated (i.e. taking place the evening before) celebration of matins and lauds in Holy Week. It developed into a unique liturgy centred around the gradual extinguishing of candles and the hiding of the last light, leading to a “strepitus” or loud noise at the end of the service. This represented the earthquake which accompanied Jesus’ death. The light then re-emerges, symbolising Christ’s risen life bursting from the tomb. This liturgy takes place on Holy Wednesday at 7.30 pm.
On Maundy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated at 6.30 pm. On Good Friday, the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion will be at 3.00 pm. In the evening of Good Friday, the Stations of the Cross will take place at 7.30 pm. This is intended as a liturgy for people who may have found it difficult to get to the Liturgy of the Passion, but is also a beautiful way of rounding off the day even if you have been to church earlier. The Easter Vigil will take place at 8.00 pm on Holy Saturday, and Easter Day’s services take place at all the usual times.
The musical programme for Holy Week will be superb and I want to thank Stevie Farr, our Director of Music, and Jeremiah Stephenson, our Associate Director of Music for all the hard work they have already put into organising and preparing for Holy Week. You can see the whole Music list for Holy Week and Easter in detail here.
I pray that the coming days will be a time in which we are all able to encounter the Lord and drawn closer to him through the liturgy of the church. May Holy Week be a blessing for us all as we seek to follow in our Lord’s footsteps, and celebrate the extraordinary news that, as a result fo his love and self sacrifice, the tomb is empty and Christ is Risen.
Fr Peter
Music Sponsorship
The music at High Mass this Sunday is sponsored by Simon Rainey, K.C., and is dedicated in thanksgiving for Pia Maria Rainey and Venetia Rainey. We are very grateful for Simon’s generosity and support.
New green Low Mass vestments
We are very grateful indeed to Stephen Miller who presented a beautiful new green Low Mass set of vestments to All Saints’ on Sunday morning. The gift was made in thanksgiving for Stephen’s 40 years as a server at All Saints’. The Low Mass set will be blessed and worn for the first time once Ordinary Time is upon us.
The vestments have been skilfully made by Genevieve Gomi, a parishioner who runs the firm Maris Stella Vestments. We are very grateful indeed to them both, and especially to Stephen for his generosity and long service to All Saints’. Many thanks indeed!
Walsingham National Pilgrimage
A double decker coach will depart from All Saints’, Margaret Street, on Monday 24th May 2025 at 7.30 am sharp, to take pilgrims to the National Pilgrimage at Walsingham. The coach will return to the West End by the evening of the same day.
The cost is £30 per person, and you sign up and pay online via the Eventbrite link here.
Bishop of Fulham’s Chrism Mass
The Bishop of Fulham will celebrate the Mass of Chrism on Holy Tuesday, 15th April 2025 at 11.00 am at St Andrew’s Church, Holborn. It is at the Chrism Mass that the bishop’s presbyteral college renews its priestly vows, and the oils of the Sick, Catechumens and Chrism is consecrated for use throughout the next twelve months. All members of All Saints’ are warmly invited to attend if they are able.
It was a great pleasure to welcome a group from St Michael’s, Barnes, to All Saints’ on Tuesday. They came for a tour of All Saints’ church and then stayed for the 12 noon Mass.
Electoral Roll 2025
You can enrol yourself on our new electoral roll in one of two ways. The first is to do it online by filling in the form here and submitting it electronically. This is the simplest, quickest and easiest way.
Alternatively, you can apply using a paper form that can be handed in on Sunday mornings or posted to the parish office. A copy of the paper form is enclosed as a pdf with this email and you are welcome to print it out.
We congratulate former parishioner of All Saints’, Sam Parker, who was received into the Order of St Francis this week and began her time as a postulant as she seeks to explore her vocation as a Franciscan nun. Many prayers from us all!
Confessions
Fr David Houlding will be available this evening, Friday 11th April, from 5-6 pm to hear confessions at All Saints’.
During Holy Week itself, Fr Jeremy Haselock will be available to hear confessions, as will the parish clergy, on Holy Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 5.00 pm – or at another time by appointment.
Young Adults’ Curry night
On Thursday 8th May there will be a curry night for our younger adults. It will be at Fr Alan’s house after the evening Mass. Let Fr Alan know by Sunday May 4th if you’d like to come along.
Next Parish Walk – Easter Saturday 26th April
Our next parish walk will be an 11 mile circular route from Amersham in the Chilterns, hoping to take in some earlyish bluebells and the wall paintings at Little Missenden.
Amersham is accessible at weekends on the Metropolitan line, and takes about an hour from central London. There are trains every half hour, and we’d want to start walking by 11.30am. There will be a stop for a picnic/pint half way, and the opportunity for an early pub supper together when back in Amersham. Email Fr Alan (assistantpriest@asms.uk) to sign up, or for more details.
Lent Appeal
You can contribute to our Lent appeal here. The proceeds of this year’s fundraising will be split between the work of the Homeless Shelter at the American Church on Tottenham Court Road and the Bishop of London’s Lent Appeal, which this year will support a number of climate justice projects in Mozambique and Angola. You can read more about the Bishop of London’s Lent Appeal here.
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross will take place tonight at 7.00 pm for the last time this Lent. In Holy Week they take place on Good Friday at 7.30 pm in the form of the Maria Desolata devotion, in which each station is imagined through the eyes of Our Lady as she reflects on the events of the day.
Volunteers needed for Holy Week
Please be in touch with Fr Alan if you would be willing to have your feet washed at the evening liturgy on Maundy Thursday.
Fidelium
A new network for young adults (18-35) who worship in parishes under the care of the Bishop of Fulham has recently been launched, called Fidelium. They will be meeting at All Saints’ in Easter Week to celebrate St George’s Day – Mass at 6.30 pm will be followed by drinks in a local pub. All our young adults are welcome to join them.
You can find out more about Fidelium here on Twitter and here on Instagram.
Easter flowers sponsorship
We would like to thank those who have sponsored an arrangement for Maundy Thursday and Easter. Would you please contact Shawn directly or via the office with your dedication, or let him know if you would prefer to only list your name or remain anonymous. Thank you.
Attendance last Sunday
For your Prayers
The Friends of All Saints’ Margaret Street:
13th – Roger Clark, Catharine Clarke, David and Mavis Cleggett, Graham Colville
14th – Karolyn Cooper, William Cooper Bailey, Peter Coulson, Steven Cox, Dr Yvonne Craig, Juliet Cridland
15th – Dr Ryan Danker, Kirill Dashkovskiy, Christopher Davies, Peter Dennis, Laura Denton, Joshua Dolphin
16th – Linda Edwards, Pamela Edwards, Jane Elliston, Dr Terrence Ellsworth, Richard Everton and Fr Philip Bevan, Carolyn Farrar
17th – Sue Feakin, Adrian Felaar, Elizabeth Ferguson, Daniel Fielden, Janice Fielden, Julia Fielden, Nigel Fisher, Mark Fleming
18th – Stuart Fletcher, Christopher Forman, Matthew Foster, Antony Fox, Dr Ralph Donald Fram, Dr Jason Frost, Derrick French, Charlotte Gauthier, Dr Rebecca Gibbs, Margaret Goddard, Paul Golding, John Goldsmith
19th – Genevieve Gomi, Canon Michael Gudgeon, Sheelagh Gudgeon, Ginger and Del Hall, Monica Joan Hall
The sick:
Graeme Butler, David Craig, Jean and Ian Grevatt, Fr Michael Gudgeon, Tony Hawkins, Fr Harry Hodgetts, Elizabeth Lyon, Philip Payne, Fr John Rick III, Ingrid Slaughter
The recently departed:
Brian Haase
The faithful departed:
13th – John Rogers, Dennis Burke, Justin Kelly
14th – David Evans, Stephen Woolley, Friederica Swinburne
15th – Rose Lethbridge, Christopher Dean, Julian Tan
16th – Evelyn Cowie, Mary Gotts, Geoffrey Heald Pr, Marilyn Goggin, Ian Miller
17th – Basil Harris, Margarita Clark
18th – Judith Barrett, Sadie Campbell, Tim Hewlett
19th – Hugh Whittow, Rex Halliwell, Irene Vile, Kathleen Bates, Hilary Waters
Services this week
Saturday 12th April – Lent Feria
12pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Confessions
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday
Sunday 13th April – PALM SUNDAY
8.30 am Low Mass
11.00 am Procession and High Mass (meet at Oxford Market)
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Mysterium Pascale: Readings and Music for Holy Week
Monday 14th April – Holy Monday
5.00 pm Confessions (Frs Alan Rimmer and Jeremy Haselock)
6.30 pm Low Mass with Sermon
Tuesday 15th April – Holy Tuesday
5.00 pm Confessions (Frs Peter Anthony and Jeremy Haselock)
6.30 pm Low Mass with Sermon
Wednesday 16th April – Holy Wednesday
5.00 pm Confessions (Frs Alan Rimmer and Jeremy Haselock)
6.30 pm Low Mass with Sermon
7.30 pm Tenebrae of Holy Thursday (sung)
Thursday 17th April – MAUNDY THURSDAY
6.30 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper, followed by the Watch until Midnight
Friday 18th April – GOOD FRIDAY
3.00 pm Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion
7.00 pm Stations of the Cross
Saturday 19th April – HOLY SATURDAY
8.00 pm Solemn Vigil of Easter
Sunday 20th April – EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD
8.30 am Low Mass
11.00 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Evensong and Benediction with Te Deum
*There are no noon Masses or Holy Hour during Holy Week