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Westminster Abbey Services | Daily Prayer, Choral Services, Special Services & More
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Westminster Abbey is a London church that hosts coronations and other important national festivities. Except for Edward V and Edward VIII, every British monarch has been crowned in the abbey since William the Conqueror. Beginning with Henry I's marriage to Matilda of Scotland in 1100, royal weddings have been held at Westminster Abbey. In addition, the Westminster Abbey is also a functioning church that holds regular free-to-attend services. Read on to know more about Westminster Abbey's Services.
Westminster Abbey Services
Westminster Abbey Services are quite popular amongst the people of faith, especially because of the cultural and historical importance of Westminster Abbey. If you are interested in attending the Westminster Abbey Services, you may do so free of charge. Listed below are the different services at the abbey that you can attend.
Evensong
Morning Prayer
Holy Communion
Evening Prayer
Sung Eucharist
Evening Service
This service follows the traditional structure in The Book of Common Prayer and includes choral music from the rich Anglican musical tradition, such as psalms, canticles, anthems, biblical readings, and prayers.
This is a short service including psalms, scripture readings, and prayers. On weekdays, this service begins at 7:30 AM and on Saturdays, the service commences at 8:40 AM. To attend the Morning Prayer, you will need to enter through the Great West Door.
According to Common Worship, this is a Word and Sacrament service in which the Holy Scriptures are read, prayers are offered, and bread and wine are consecrated and received as Jesus Christ's flesh and blood.
Psalms, readings from Holy Scripture, and prayers are used in this service, which follows the traditional form in The Book of Common Prayer. The evening prayer is held at 5 PM on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
The Holy Scriptures are read, a sermon is spoken, prayers are offered, and bread and wine are consecrated and received as the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ in this Word and Sacrament Westminster Abbey service.
Readings, prayers, music, and an address make up this informal and introspective service. If you are planning to attend Westminster Abbey Services for the first time, this should be the best one to start with.
Other Services at Westminster Abbey
People travel from all over the world to attend the Westminster Abbey services, which are part of a long-standing practice of daily Christian worship that dates back to the ninth century. Here are some other services that you can attend at Westminster Abbey.
Choral Services
For almost a thousand years, sung prayer has been offered essentially every day in Westminster Abbey. During the school year, the world-famous Westminster Abbey Choir sings daily services, with visiting choirs filling in when the Abbey Choir is on break. The music sung encompasses the amazing complexity and variation of the Anglican choral heritage, ranging from Gregorian chant from the first millennium to current music.
Special Services
Annual festivals, memorials, and remembrances are just a few of the special services held at Westminster Abbey. Many are held on behalf of a national or international organization, the church, or the Royal Family. If you are visiting London, keep an eye on the church schedule to catch one of these beautiful special services.
Our Lady of Pew
A little enclosure or chapel is referred to as a 'Pew'. Under “Our Lady of Pew’, the abbey offers mass and retreats to honor the mother of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary. While it was once a self-contained rectangular recess chapel of the 14th century, today, the Chapel of Our Lady of Pew serves as the entrance to the Chapel of St John the Baptist and is located off the north ambulatory.
Organ Recitals
Every Sunday afternoon, Westminster Abbey hosts an organ recital. These free 30-minute concerts feature a diverse spectrum of music and feature the abbey's famous Harrison & Harrison organ. If purely religious services aren’t your cup of tea, this special event is made for you.
Edwardtide
Catholics commemorate the life of St Edward the Confessor, King of England from 1042 to 1066 and the re-founder of Westminster Abbey, on Edwardtide. St Edward was canonized in 1161, and people still flock to his shrine to worship in October of every year.
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Advent and Christmas
At Westminster Abbey, Advent and Christmas are special times. This year, Westminster Abbey hopes to accommodate as many worshippers as possible to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. There will be a variety of music and family events, and the abbey will be available to tourists for much of the Christmas season.
Streaming Services
While congregation sizes are limited due to the coronavirus outbreak, Westminster Abbey broadcasts select services for people to watch from their homes. This is one of the easiest ways to follow Westminster Abbey services.
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FAQs on Westminster Abbey Services
Q. Can I attend a service at Westminster Abbey?
A. Yes, you can attend a Westminster Abbey service.
Q. Can I visit Westminster Abbey for private prayer?
A. You can go to Westminster Abbey for private prayer. This is free of charge as well.
Q. Do I need to pay to attend a service at Westminster Abbey?
A. No, you don’t have to pay to attend Westminster Abbey services.
Q. What are the timings for Westminster Abbey services?
A. Westminster Abbey Services begin from the morning and go on well into the evening. You can look at their schedules here.
Q. How to enter Westminster Abbey for a service?
A. You can use the Great West Door to enter Westminster Abbey for the services.
Q. Do I need to follow a dress code for attending services at Westminster Abbey?
A. Yes, since Westminster Abbey is a religious institution, you need to dress in an attire that doesn’t reveal your shoulders and knees. You can be refused entry if your attire isn’t appropriate.
Q. Can I speak to a chaplain at Westminster Abbey?
A. Yes, you can speak to a chaplain at the Abbey. These services are subject to availability. You can approach an abbey marshal to help you.
Q. Is Westminster Abbey a part of the Church of England?
A. Westminster Abbey is neither a parish church nor a cathedral. However, it still plays a significant role within the Church of England. It is instead called “Royal Peculiar”, a status given to the abbey during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Q. Can I visit Westminster Abbey as a part of the clergy?
A. Yes, you can visit Westminster Abbey as a part of the clergy.
