Lent & Easter 2026

A full programme of services, activities, and events for Lent and Easter 2026. Download the full programme, or find out more about the Rags for Reflection initiative.

MESSY CHURCH at Holy Trinity Charlton

Holiday activities, worship, and food for all the family!

Monday 30 March, 2pm

Free but booking advised at ticketsource.co.uk/wantage-parish

LENT TRAIL

Look out for posters in local businesses between 20 March and 12 April, telling the Easter story. Find them all to collect an Easter Egg!

RAGS FOR REFLECTION: all are invited to contribute to the community banner (more details on the Rags for Reflection page)

VIGIL OF LAMENT on Sunday 8 March (Covid Day of Reflection)

The ‘new normal’ is a hard place to be. Whatever your politics, whatever your pain, come and light a candle for those who died in the pandemic and for everything we feel we have lost or are afraid of losing. Meet outside Marmalade 3pm for a short act of reflection with the community banner.

LENT CONCERT with Wantage Parish Choir

Saturday 28 March, 7pm at the Parish Church. Music and words for Lent and Passiontide. Tickets £12/£10, under-18 free.

FRIDAY COMPLINE: 9 pm at the Parish Church

Weekly from 20 Feb to 27 March

A short meditative service of chant and choral music to end the day.

SUNDAY DEVOTIONS: 5 pm at the Parish Church

22 Feburary: Stations of the Cross
1 March: Choral Evensong with Wantage Parish Choir
15 March: Taizé Prayers. A meditative service using chant from the ecumenical community of Taizé.
22 March: Tenebrae: the Service of Shadows. A traditional service for Passiontide, sung by the Choir.
29 March: Improvisations of the Cross. Stations of the Cross with organ improvisations from John Ridgway.

PALM SUNDAY: Sunday 29 March, 10am in the Market Place

Join Wantage Silver Band and the local churches for a short outdoor service, with a four-footed special guest from Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary! Palm Sunday walk meeting 9am at Holy Trinity.

TRIDUUM: THE THREE HOLY DAYS

MAUNDY THURSDAY: Thursday 2 April, 8 pm at the Parish Church "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

Recalling the Last Supper, with the invitation to have your feet washed. Please note this service lasts until approx 9.30, followed by an optional vigil until 11 pm.

GOOD FRIDAY: Friday 3 April "Father, forgive them"

9.30 am at Holy Trinity Charlton. A short service of prayer and reflection on the passion of Jesus.

11.30 - 12.30 Walk of Witness with Wantage & Grove Church Partnership. Meet Kingsgrove Square, finishing at Wantage Market Place with hot cross buns!

1.30 - 3 pm at the Parish Church. Traditional solemn devotions for Good Friday, as we watch with Christ on the cross.

HOLY SATURDAY VIGIL: Saturday 4 April, 10pm starting outside the Parish Church in the churchyard. "Alleluia! Christ is Risen!"

A candlelit service of readings and music leading up to the glorious announcement of the Resurrection, and finishing before midnight. We gather outside around a bonfire (the 'new fire') to light the Paschal Candle.

EASTER DAY: Sunday 5 April. "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, he is risen!"
8 am at the Parish Church
9.15 am at Holy Trinity Charlton
10.30 am at the Parish Church with Easter Egg Hunt!

Lent & Easter 2026

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