The fifth Sunday of Lent

Sung Eucharist for the fifth Sunday of Lent

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Compline by Candlelight
This Tuesday 28 March at 8.40 pm · Watch the service

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 29 March at 10.00 am


Daily Prayers for the Coronation of King Charles III

As The King and Queen Consort prepare to solemnise the promises and commitments they make to the nations and people they represent, the Church will begin 28 days of prayer and spiritual preparation alongside them – praying with and for The King from Easter Sunday to the Coronation on 6 May with the final week, from Sunday 30 April, to be a national week of dedicated prayer to uphold and strengthen His Majesty The King and all the Royal Family.

Copies of the prayer booklet to be used during the 28 days are available at the back of the church. A donation of £1 is invited to cover the cost.

"Hello" from Father John Gribben

Hello Whitkirk,

I am looking forward to being with you for Holy Week. Matthew suggested that you might like a few introductory remarks, so here goes. I was born and grew up in Belfast. After three years at Divinity College in Dublin and another two at King’s College, London I was ordained for a parish just outside Belfast. It was called Dunmurry and I had four happy years there before coming to Mirfield to test my vocation to monastic life. That was in January 1979 and I have been here ever since. Twenty of those years were spent teaching in the College and during that time I have been on several visits to Whitkirk to listen to student sermons.   I have now spent more than half my life at Mirfield. It isn’t always easy but I have always loved my calling and the community. I used to teach doctrine and Church History but now I am more interested in study. I enjoy (as an amateur) the history of art and in the recent past I’ve taken to reading on scientific subjects. I try to apply these things to my meditation and in preaching. On a lighter note I’m fond of Cinema and old comics. Oh yes – I also do a bit of running. See you all on Palm Sunday.

– John Gribben CR

Lent 2023: Praying the Passion

Tuesday 28 March 2023 at 7.30 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

On Tuesday Matthew will lead the last of our Lent meetings with a talk entitled ‘Praying the Passion.’ The talk will begin with exploring something of the purpose of liturgy, before moving to consider the liturgies of Holy Week.

The hope is that the talk will help deepen the experience of the liturgies in the most important week of the Church year. It starts at 7.30 pm and will last an hour, followed by Sung Compline at 8.40 pm.

Sung Eucharist for Palm Sunday

Sunday 2 April 2023 at 10.00 am
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

We begin Holy Week with the blessing of palms, a procession to the church from the Community Centre, and a dramatic reading of the Passion.

Stations of the Cross: An exhibition and introduction

Monday 3 April 2023 at 6.30 pm
St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre

Artist Stephen Walker introduces his exhibition of paintings of the Stations of the Cross, on display through Holy Week.

Maundy Thursday

Thursday 6 April 2023 at 7.30 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Maundy Thursday marks the Last Supper, and through the washing of feet we remind ourselves of the commandment to “love one another”.

Good Friday Activity Morning

Friday 7 April 2023 at 10.00 am
St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre

Good food, good fun, Good Friday. Learn about the meaning of Holy Week with activities such as building an Easter Garden, and enjoy a tasty hot cross bun.

Sung Eucharist for Easter Day

Sunday 9 April 2023 at 10.00 am
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Join us in song, prayer, reading and communion as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ on Easter morning.


The Church family

For your prayers

The sick

  • Baby Percy
  • Brian and June Sutcliffe
  • Christine Russell
  • Erica Honeybone
  • Ginny Camponi
  • Jean Bannister
  • Jeff Blowers
  • Michael Higgott
  • Shane Simpson
  • Tom Heaphy

Those in long-term care

  • George Brown
  • Jennifer Moad
  • Lyn Perry
  • Margaret Burton
  • Mary Metcalfe

Recently died

  • Alec Grimmond
  • David Marlow
  • Keith Bradley
  • Margery Robertshaw

Anniversary of death

  • George Howden