Worship

Daily Offices

The Daily Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer are said each day at the times listed on this page (and on the noticeboards). Each service takes about 20 minutes and consists of a hymn, psalms, a reading, a canticle and prayers. A number of people join the clergy in these services each day.

Mass, Eucharist or Holy Communion

Mass has been said daily in Saint Wilfrid’s since 1914 (except on Good Friday and Holy Saturday). The times are listed on this page. On some days we use the traditional language rite of the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) and on other days we use a modern language rite from Common Worship (CW). Newcomers and visitors are always welcome.

The Parish Mass

On Sundays at 10.00 we celebrate a Sung Parish Mass at which there is generally a sermon. A good choir is able to sing fine settings of the Mass. We make use of vestments, and incense and celebrate in a fairly formal style that we hope is not unfriendly. Newcomers and visitors are welcome and we ask them to make themselves known to the clergy or churchwardens. A Newcomers’ & Visitors’ pack is available in church.

The notes that follow and which are printed in our service books, will tell you a little more about our attitude to worship.

The Mass, Eucharist or Holy Communion

Through the years, the liturgy of the Eucharist has had a number of names within the Church of England e.g. Mass; Holy Communion; The Lord’s Supper. The different titles have different nuances and hint at different emphases, but they all describe the same act in which Christ is made present to his people through bread and wine. There is no single right or wrong way for a community to celebrate this sacrament, but in this parish we seek to worship through the dignity of a formal service. Many of the words that we use are ecumenical and reflect our belonging to the whole (catholic) church of God and not just the Church of England.

In the community’s celebration of the Eucharist, some texts are said/sung by the whole congregation whilst some are said by the priest on their behalf. When speaking to God on behalf of the whole community, the priest generally prays with his hands extended. When joining the whole community in prayer, he closes his hands.

Use of Vestments & Ritual

Clergy wear traditional coloured chasubles over white albs to celebrate the Mass. The colours represent particular days or seasons and help set the tone for the service.

Purple - is a solemn colour worn on penitential days and seasons such as Advent and Lent.

White - is the festive colour and is worn on days of celebration such as Christmas, Easter and on feast days of those saints that are not martyrs.

Red - is the colour of flame and of blood. It is worn on occasions associated with the Holy Spirit such as Pentecost, on martyrs' days and on certain days of Holy Week

Green - the colour of nature, is worn through the year on ordinary days. It reminds us of quiet growth.

The liturgy of the Eucharist is more than words. It is a whole action or drama that involves movement and the use of all our bodies' senses of sight, sound, taste, touch and small.

Candles - highlight and draw attention to particular actions e.g. the carrying of the cross, a Christian ensign, or the carrying of the Gospel Book that represents the presence of Christ in Scripture. They sit around the altar to highlight the presence of Christ in bread and wine.

Incense - "owns a deity nigh" and highlights the presence of God and the making holy of things, actions or people. Its use is thoroughly biblical and commanded in the Old Testament.

Bowing - is a way of paying honour, respect or thanks to people or to God. It is traditional to genuflect to the presence of Christ in bread and wine. To genuflect is to get down momentarily on the right knee.