We welcome everyone to attend our public services.
The weekday, Saturday night and Sunday 8:30 am masses are all held in the Lady Chapel. The Lady Chapel is smaller space to left hand side at the front of the church. Enter by passing through the iron work gates.
The main Sunday 10:00 am service and all other services are held in the main part of the church.
The Sunday 10:00 am service takes the form of Solemn Mass. In the Anglo-Catholic tradition this is the fullest expression of Christian worship. It incorporates a rich arrangement of text, ceremony and music.
When you arrive you will be greeted and given a printed booklet with all the prayers, readings and hymns for the service, and a bulletin which has details of parish events and a weekly letter from the vicar. You may take these home.
Sit in any of the pews and participate as you feel able to. Following the service visitors are always welcome and are encouraged to join parishioners for refreshments in the Parish Hall.
Where do our customs come from?
Our worship reflects our foundation in the tradition of the Oxford Movement, which began in the 1830s when several Church of England clergy started a renewal in reaction to what they perceived as laxity and spiritual lifelessness in their churches. They advocated for a restoration to the pattern of Catholic worship, devotion, and spirituality, which originated in ancient times but was lost during the Reformation.
Why do we call ourselves “Anglo-Catholic?”
The word “catholic” comes from a Greek word meaning “universal” and originally referred to essential beliefs held by all Christians. As a result of various schisms and the consequences of the Protestant Reformation, it has come to identify Christians who hold a specific set of theological and sacramental views. Today, “Anglo-Catholic” describes the beliefs and practices of Anglicans who follow the ideas and practices born from the Oxford Movement.
What can I expect at an Anglo-Catholic service at All Saints?
In addition to rediscovering ceremony, the Fathers of the Oxford Movement also led a return to classical Catholic theology. Most notably, they elevated the Sacrament of the Eucharist, in which we believe Christ to be really present to us in the sacramental bread and wine – His Body and Blood. From a Catholic viewpoint, this is an experience so profound that words become inadequate, and ceremonial gestures, such as the sign of the cross and genuflections, serve to express some of what we cannot put into speech.
Our liturgy incorporates a variety of ministers to enhance our worship, including the Celebrant, Deacon, and Subdeacon. Their roles and vestments date back to early Church tradition and not only define the roles of the servers, but also express the corporate nature of our worship by minimizing individual distinctions.
You may see congregants making gestures such as the sign of the cross or genuflecting. The gestures you witness are a matter of personal preference. The sign of the cross and other ceremonials are outward signs of reverence, expressions of deeply personal belief and practice. They are not requirements of our liturgy or indications one is ready for membership. We hope you feel comfortable experiencing our liturgy in a way that is meaningful to you. If you have questions, one of the clergy would be glad to explain these customs to you.
Can I receive Communion here?
All baptised Christians are welcome to receive Communion at our Altar. The Anglican Church is clear that any person who has been baptised with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit may receive Communion in this Church. Please feel free to speak to one of the clergy if you have further questions about communion at All Saints.
