Feast Days & Special Services
The Usage of St Michael’s is a generic calendar of Feast Days, observed here; traditional forms of worship based on the Sarum Missal are used within the cycle of the Church’s seasons.
The Usage can be downloaded as a PDF here. This Usage follows ancient forms of services from the 11th Century until the English Reformation. This online resource was commissioned by the Heritage and Music Development Group for the Organ Project and originally compiled in 2011 by the late Canon John Thurmer, beloved Priest in Charge of St Michael & All Angels.
Canon Thurmer was Canon Emeritus of Exeter Cathedral, Chaplain of the University of Exeter and also an Honorary Assistant Priest of the Parish of St David’s with St Michael & All Angels, Exeter.
Throughout the year, other Saints and Martyrs Days may be marked, e.g. St Theresa of Avila, or Sankta Lucia, either within a CBS Mass or at Vespers or by a special service or recital. Each year, the calendar of Feast Days and Special Services is updated and listed further down this page.
A further PDF resource for download is currently being compiled to accompany the Usage document for Feast Days at St Michael’s, with examples of music for full choir, organ and occasionally string quartet.
Special Services
BAPTISM
Holy Mass and Baptism at St Michael’s …
Order of Service for Baptism within the MassMARRIAGE
Couples at St Michael’s often choose a full Nuptial Mass for their Wedding service. Others choose a simpler marriage service or blessing.
See our Wedding pages for information about music, and other resources.
FUNERAL
A Funeral at St Michael’s can vary from a Prayer Book or Common Worship Service to a full Requiem Mass with Incense and Asperges. The Choir of St Michael’s can provide singers as required.
Feast Days for 2023
January
Friday 6th, 2023 7:00pm
EPIPHANY
The Magi arrive at the Crib
Sung Mass
Choral Evensong and Benediction
Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord
February
Thursday 2nd, 2023 7:00pm
CANDLEMAS
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, celebrated 40 days after Christmas
Sung Mass with Candle Blessing and Procession
Choral Evensong and Benediction
Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord
February
Wednesday 22nd, 2023 7:00pm
ASH WEDNESDAY
Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent and takes places 46 days before Easter. This follows the PASCHAL full moon each year.
Sung Mass with Imposition of Ashes
Liturgical colour: PURPLE
March
Sunday 19th, 2023 11:00am
MOTHERING SUNDAY (Laetare Sunday)
Mothers are presented with posies of spring flowers, distributed during the service, followed by Simnel cake and refreshment.
Sung Mass.
Liturgical colour: ROSE RED
March
Saturday 25th, 2023 11:00am
THE ANNUNCIATION of OUR LADY (Lady Day)
We celebrate the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the Mother of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah and Son of God, marking his incarnation.
Sung Mass
Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord
March
Sunday 26th, 2023 11:00am
PASSION SUNDAY
5th Sunday in Lent Marked with the Veiling of Crosses and Statues
Sung Mass
Liturgical colour: PURPLE
HOLY WEEK 2nd - 9th April 2023
In the Anglo-Catholic tradition, Holy Week is perhaps the most important Liturgical time of the year. At St Michael’s the pattern of the week marks the journey of Jesus entering into Jerusalem through to his suffering and passion on the Cross. The following days and services are observed:
Passion Sunday: Sung Mass
Tuesday: Vespers & Meditation, Passiontide Office
Spy Wednesday: Stations of the Cross and the Stabat Mater is Sung
Maundy Thursday: Vespers & Meditation, Maundy Thursday Office
Sung Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Good Friday: Sung Mass of the Pre-Sanctified and Adoration
Good Friday: Tenebrae, the Lamentations of Jeremiah are sung from the Gallery by candlelight
Holy Saturday: Sung Mass & Great Vigil, with the Lighting of the Pascal Candle and Blessing of the New Fire
Easter Sunday: Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: PURPLE
Download PDF for more informationApril
Sunday 2nd, 2023 11:00am
PALM SUNDAY
Sung Mass with the Blessing & Procession of Palms and Sung Gospel of the Passion
Liturgical colour: PURPLE
April
Wednesday 5th, 2023 6:00pm
SPY WEDNESDAY
Spy Wednesday, Stations of the Cross with Stabat Mater Dolorosa
Liturgical colour: PURPLE
April
Thursday 6th, 2023 7:30pm
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Mass of the Lord’s Supper, with Foot Washing
At the end of this service the High Altar is stripped – followed by the Watch through the Night
Liturgical colour: PURPLE
Plainsong Tenebrae is sung during the Watch through the Night
April
Friday 7th, 2023 10:30am
GOOD FRIDAY
Good Friday Liturgy with Veneration of the Cross
Mass of the Pre-Sanctified and Adoration
Liturgical colour: BLACK
Good Friday Tenebrae, 8.00pm. The nave is lit with candles which are gradually extinguished during the service of sung Psalms and prayers, meditating on the Passion and Death of Our Lord.
The Psalms and Responds of the Lamentations of Jeremiah are sung to plainsong, elaborated with polyphony by Orlando di Lassus (1532-1594) and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)
April
Saturday 8th, 2023 8:00pm
HOLY SATURDAY
Easter Eve – Vigil and the First Mass of Easter with the Ceremony at the Font : the Blessing of the New Fire and Lighting of The Paschal Candle, Sung Exsultet, Renewal of Baptismal Vows, and First Mass of Easter. The service is followed by a party.
Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord
April
Sunday 9th, 2023 11:00am
EASTER DAY
Festal Mass and Blessing of the Easter Garden
Sung Mass for Easter Day
Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord
May
Sunday 14th, 2023 11:00am
ROGATION SUNDAY
Rogation Procession, Sunday before Ascension
Sung Mass with procession around Mount Dinham, praying for God to bless our work and the fruits of the Earth in their seasons
Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord
May
Thursday 18th, 2023 7:30pm
ASCENSION DAY
Ascension Day is 40 days after Easter
Plainsong Matins is sung from the Gallery, followed by breakfast
Sung Mass
Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of our Lord
May
Sunday 28th, 2023 11:00am
PENTECOST (Whitsunday)
50 days after Easter
Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: RED
June
Sunday 4th, 2023 11:00am
TRINITY SUNDAY
A Feast dedicated to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, the essence of God expressing itself in three persons: God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the spirit of God. It is one of the few Christian feasts that celebrates a doctrine, not an event.
Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord
June
Sunday 11th, 2023 11:00am
MUSIC SUNDAY (RSCM)
Sung Mass with Viennese Mass Setting (sometimes accompanied by Strings in previous years).
Date chosen by Royal School of Church Music (RSCM)
Liturgical Colour: GREEN
RSCM Music Sunday “.. is a fabulous opportunity not only to celebrate the role of church music in worship and the dedication of all our church musicians, but also to reach out into the community and join with others“.
June
Thursday 8th, 2023 7:30pm
CORPUS CHRISTI
Sung Mass with procession of the Blessed Sacrament with “chuppah” (canopy) around Mount Dinham. A young server or member of the choir scatters fresh petals ahead of the procession from a small basket.
Held on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.
Liturgical Colour: WHITE ~ Feast of Our Lord
July
Sunday 9th, 2023 11:00am
SEA SUNDAY
The Second Sunday in July has been kept as Sea Sunday with Sermon and Prayers reflecting on the worldwide work of the Mission to Seafarers.
Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: GREEN
August
Tuesday 15th, 2023 11:00am
ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: WHITE ~ Feast of Our Lord
Traditionally observed on the 15th August annually
September
Friday 8th, 2023 6:00pm
FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Plainsong Vespers
Liturgical Colour: WHITE – Feast of Our Lady
This year, the Feast fell on the day of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
September
Sunday 24th, 2023 11:00am
HARVEST SUNDAY
Sung Mass, Harvest Thanksgiving with shared Harvest Loaf, also Bountiful Table of Baking, Produce & Preserves.
Liturgical Colour: GREEN
September
Friday 29th, 2023 7:30pm
MICHAELMASS
Procession, Sung Mass and Party for our Patronal Festival.
Liturgical Colour: GOLD
October
Sunday 1st, 2023 11:00am
DEDICATION SUNDAY (after Michaelmas)
The Sunday after our Patronal Festival.
Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: RED
October
Sunday 2nd, 2022 11:00am
HARVEST SUNDAY
Sung Mass, Harvest Thanksgiving with shared Harvest Loaf, also Bountiful Table of Baking, Produce & Preserves.
Liturgical Colour: GREEN
November
Wednesday 1st, 2023 6:00pm
ALL SAINTS DAY
Sung Mass of All Saints
Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord
November
Thursday 2nd, 2023 6:00pm
ALL SOULS DAY
Sung Requiem Mass
Liturgical Colour: BLACK
November
Sunday 12th, 2023 11:00am
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
Sung Mass
Act of Remembrance is observed at 11am, or at the end of the service.
Liturgical Colour: BLACK
November
Sunday 26th, 2023 11:00am
CHRIST THE KING
Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: RED
Also traditionally known as Stir-up Sunday, from the Prayer Book Collect and the making of Christmas puddings, the last Sunday before Advent is a celebration of Christ the King, Jesus as the just ruler over all the Universe.
Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ADVENT 3rd Dec - 24th Dec 2022
Advent is a season of the liturgical year observed in most Christian denominations as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming.
At St Michael’s the Advent wreath is decked with 5 candles, 4 around the edge and 1 in the centre. The first candle is lit on the first Sunday in Advent, then two are lit on the second Sunday and so on, until all four and the fifth are lit together on Christmas Day.
Liturgical colour: PURPLE
December
Sunday 3rd, 2023 11:00am
ADVENT SUNDAY
Sung Mass with Litany by Cranmer (1544)
The Litany published in 1544 is the earliest officially authorized vernacular service in English. The 1st candle of the Advent wreath is lit.
Advent Sunday is the Sunday nearest to 30 November and the start of the Christian Year.
Liturgical colour: PURPLE
December
Sunday 3rd, 2023 6:00pm
ADVENT PROCESSION
The Advent Procession uses Prayers, Readings, Hymns and Advent Carols illuminating the Great O Antiphons, which comprise the Advent Hymn “O come, O come Emmanuel” and concludes with the Magnificat (and in former years the service of Benediction).
This usually takes place on the 2nd Sunday of Advent to allow for Exeter Cathedral’s Advent Service on the 1st Sunday.
Liturgical colour: PURPLE
December
Sunday 17th, 2023 11:00am
GAUDETE SUNDAY
The 3rd Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, from the Introit words “Rejoice in the Lord alway”; the Rose Candle of the Advent wreath is lit.
Sung Mass
Liturgical colour: ROSE RED
December
Friday 15th, 2023 7:30pm
SANKTA LUCIA
Sankta Lucia Services are held at a growing number of locations throughout the UK, though the origins of the festival lie in Scandinavia. St Lucy was a fourth century Christian martyr and her feast day is December 13th; she is associated with bringing light into the winter darkness. The traditional events follow the Swedish pattern of a candle-lit procession in church with special carols and readings, led by a girl representing the Saint wearing white robes with a crown of blazing candles.
Liturgical colour: WHITE
December
Sunday 24th, 2023 11:00pm
MIDNIGHT MASS
Sung Mass and Blessing of the Crib, by candlelight, preceded by Carols from the West Gallery
Liturgical colour: WHITE/GOLD
December
Monday 25th, 2023 11:00am
CHRISTMAS DAY
Sung Mass with Prayers at the Crib
Liturgical colour: WHITE/GOLD