Diocese of Chichester

Holy Week celebrations started on Palm Sunday with the Blessing of Palms at Churches across the diocese.

At All Saints, Hove, Bishop Will joined Fr Ryan Green and members of the church at Palmeira Square for a Blessing of the palms, returning to the church on foot, reflecting the Lord’s triumphal procession into Jerusalem.

The choir of St Nicholas, Middleton, led the procession of church members through the village to mark Palm Sunday. They sang a traditional Easter hymn ‘Ride on ride on in majesty’ The church has been steadily growing in recent months.

In Holy Week all clergy in the diocese were invited to renew their vows and ordination promises. At the services in All Saints Hove, led by Bishop Ruth and Bishop Will, oils were also blessed for use in churches across the Diocese.

At St Wilfrid’s near Chichester sacred traditions were observed when Fr Stephen Mills performed the Maundy Thursday ancient rite of foot washing. This was followed by a vigil and service on Easter Day.

Churches in the diocese of Chichester recorded high numbers attending Easter services, especially Easter morning sunrise services which are becoming increasingly popular with people less familiar with traditional church services.

At Shoreham beach church members gathered for sunrise communion on Easter Sunday making the best of the good weather by taking the church outside. Revd Jane Bartlett said: “We held a church family gathering on good Friday in the vicarage garden and heard the story of Good Friday and made Easter gardens to take home. On Easter Day we had as many as 70 people with us at 6am on Shoreham Beach. We saw the pink Paschal moon and sunrise. It was wonderful”.

Parishioners from the churches of Chidham, Nutbourne, Funtingdon and Sennicotts gathered on Easter morning to light the Easter fire on the shoreline at Cobnor Point, overlooking Chichester Harbour and Bosham. Fr Andrew Birks said: “Over 40 people gathered on the beach. Once the fire had been blessed the Paschal Candle was lit from it. Those gathered renewed their Baptismal Promises and then shared in the Easter Morning Eucharist. It was great to come together in fellowship with one another at such a beautiful location to recognise the Risen Lord and share the joy of Easter morning.”

At the early morning Easter Service at Ashburnham, villagers, members of St Peter’s Church and some of the staff and volunteers from Ashburnham Place, gathered. Revd Gary Cregeen said: “It’s the first time we’ve done this. It demonstrates a great community spirit and coming together.”

In the parish of South Lancing and Sompting over 140 people attended the church on Easter Sunday. Fr Felix Smith gathered everyone together for a great church family photo after the service.

There were three services with three different styles at Holy Trinity Hurstpierpoint, including a lively service for all ages led by the vicar, Jane Willis, with an egg hunt for the children in the churchyard afterwards.

At Holy Trinity Uckfield, the church was filled with celebration and beautifully decorated with flowers. “As well as a baptism the children's choir sang, Easter bonnets were a-plenty, chocolate eggs were rolled and there was a very special performance by Poppy and Cerys who sang ‘An Easter Hallelujah' It was a very special day” said Fr John Wall.

The church at St John’s Crawley came together to celebrate the weekend that changed everything. “What a day we had on Sunday” said Revd Steve Burston. “It was a day of beautiful weather where we declared that the Lord has risen indeed! We had baptisms at both the 11am and 6pm services and it was so moving to hear the testimonies from each of the participants who all chose to give their life to God. It was a day that was capped off by impromptu dancing by the whole congregation.”

The Cathedral was transformed with spring flowers representing hope and new beginnings as the celebrations for Jesus' resurrection began and the Bishop celebrated the Eucharist at the Cathedral on Easter Day.

Photo credit: Cobnor Point with Fr Andrew Birks reproduced courtesy of Russell Sach