What’s on at Whitkirk

7.00 pm – 8.15 pmLent Talks 2025: The Very Reverend Simon Cowling (Dean of Wakefield), "Begotten not made"

2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a meeting of Christian bishops, convened by the Emperor Constantine, which took place in the town of Nicaea (now Iznik in Turkey) between May and July 385 CE. Its aim was to obtain consensus about core Christian beliefs, and one of its products was a first version of the Nicene Creed, which we say almost every week in this church and which is said in Christian churches throughout the world. Our series of Lent talks this year will focus on aspects of the Creed, offering an opportunity to think more deeply about the words that we repeat each week, which encapsulate what it means to be a Christian.

All the talks will take place in the church at 7.00 pm and will be followed by a service of Compline, which will end at about 8.15 pm.

This evening's talk is led by the Very Reverend Simon Cowling, Dean of Wakefield.

7.00 pm – 8.15 pmLent Talks 2025: The Reverend Dr Janet Williams (St Hild College), "He will come again in glory"

2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a meeting of Christian bishops, convened by the Emperor Constantine, which took place in the town of Nicaea (now Iznik in Turkey) between May and July 385 CE. Its aim was to obtain consensus about core Christian beliefs, and one of its products was a first version of the Nicene Creed, which we say almost every week in this church and which is said in Christian churches throughout the world. Our series of Lent talks this year will focus on aspects of the Creed, offering an opportunity to think more deeply about the words that we repeat each week, which encapsulate what it means to be a Christian.

All the talks will take place in the church at 7.00 pm and will be followed by a service of Compline, which will end at about 8.15 pm.

This evening's talk is led by the Reverend Dr Janet Williams, Vice-Principal of St Hild Theological College.

7.00 pm – 8.15 pmLent Talks 2025: The Reverend Dr Claire Honess (Vicar of Whitkirk), "We believe in one [...] church"

2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a meeting of Christian bishops, convened by the Emperor Constantine, which took place in the town of Nicaea (now Iznik in Turkey) between May and July 385 CE. Its aim was to obtain consensus about core Christian beliefs, and one of its products was a first version of the Nicene Creed, which we say almost every week in this church and which is said in Christian churches throughout the world. Our series of Lent talks this year will focus on aspects of the Creed, offering an opportunity to think more deeply about the words that we repeat each week, which encapsulate what it means to be a Christian.

All the talks will take place in the church at 7.00 pm and will be followed by a service of Compline, which will end at about 8.15 pm.

This evening's talk is led by Claire Honess, Vicar of Whitkirk.

10.00 am – 11.30 amSung Eucharist for Palm Sunday

We gather outside the church for the blessing of palms and the Palm Gospel.  Then we move inside for our Sung Eucharist and hear the story of the last week of Jesus's life in full.

4.00 pm – 5.00 pmMessy Easter

7.30 pm – 8.00 pmStations of the Cross

A quiet, meditative service to start Holy Week.
Join us as we journey with Jesus to his place of execution, meditating on the traditional 'Stations of the Cross' as we go. 
You are welcome either to walk around the church to each station, or to remain seated  as you listen to the reflections - whatever is most comfortable for you.

7.30 pm – 8.30 pmContemplative Eucharist for Holy Week

A simple, reflective Eucharist for Holy Week with space for contemplation as quiet music plays.

7.30 pm – 8.30 pmTenebrae

Tenebrae is an ancient Easter Service, often held on the Wednesday of Holy Week, involving a series of meditative readings interspersed with music. 
We begin the service with a series of lit candles; as the service progresses, these are gradually extinguished until we end in darkness.
All are welcome

7.30 pm – 10.00 pmMaundy Thursday Eucharist followed by the Watch

A Sung Eucharist to commemorate the Last Supper.
During the service, there will be the opportunity for members of the congregation to have their feet washed, in imitation of Jesus doing this for his own disciples.  
At the end, we move to the side chapel where a watch will be kept until 10pm.

2.00 pm – 3.00 pmThe Liturgy of Good Friday

We gather to remember Jesus's crucifixion.

6.00 am – 7.30 amEaster Vigil

A new fire is kindled, a new Easter candle is brought into church, and, as the light returns, we tell again the story of God's relationship with humankind, culminating in the story of Jesus's Resurrection.

10.00 am – 11.30 amSung Eucharist for Easter Day

2.30 pm – 3.30 pmEaster Egg Hunt

2.15 pm – 3.00 pmWhitkirk Concert Season - Heather Woodhead & Alison Battye (Voice, Guitar, Flute)

Free admission.

Retiring collection. 

The Church will remain open after the concert until 4.00 pm for visitors to look around this historic church.

7.00 pm – 8.00 pmService of Remembrance to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day

8.00 am – 5.30 pmTrip to National Memorial Arboretum

A trip to the National Memorial Arboretum to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

6.00 pm – 8.00 pmWhitkirk Concert Season - Svitoch Ukrainian Choir

More details to follow, in due course, regarding ticket prices etc.