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| The High Altar at All Saints Church "dressed" for Lent |
Lent began at All Saints with three services on Ash Wednesday; in the morning, at lunchtime and in the evening.
The morning service was the usual service weekly "Wednesday Mums" Communion service for mums, babies and other carers. This service is currently enjoying a surge in popularity with regular attendances of 40 including the children.
Two of the services this year included the ceremony of imposition of ashes which has become an established part of Ash Wednesday at All Saints but remains optional for all attendees in accordance with Church of England tradition.
It's common for churches to use purple hangings and vestments in Lent but All Saints and some other churches for historical reasons use sackcloth-coloured ones. This goes back to pre-Victorian times when All Saints Church's original link was with Salisbury Cathedral (note the church's address on Wiltshire Road). Salisbury Cathedral and its associated churches had its own colour scheme for seasons of the year. This is also why All Saints uses blue rather than the usual purple in Advent.
The recently acquired priests' vestments at All Saints also continue this tradition. There are some who consider the chasuble used at Lent to be the most beautiful of the new set.
Another tradition of Lent now well-established in All Saints Church is the use of the Lenten candle ring. The idea is similar to the familiar Advent ring. The Lent ring has six candles around the outer ring instead of four, representing the six weeks of Lent.
Instead of lighting a candle each week as in Advent, in Lent the ring begins fully lit, including the white Christ candle in the centre. Each week one of the candles is extinguished until finally, during the Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday, the central Christ candle is snuffed out in a powerfully symbolic moment recalling the moment of Christ's death on the Cross.
Two of the services this year included the ceremony of imposition of ashes which has become an established part of Ash Wednesday at All Saints but remains optional for all attendees in accordance with Church of England tradition.
It's common for churches to use purple hangings and vestments in Lent but All Saints and some other churches for historical reasons use sackcloth-coloured ones. This goes back to pre-Victorian times when All Saints Church's original link was with Salisbury Cathedral (note the church's address on Wiltshire Road). Salisbury Cathedral and its associated churches had its own colour scheme for seasons of the year. This is also why All Saints uses blue rather than the usual purple in Advent.
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| The chasuble (priest's robe) used in Lent |
The recently acquired priests' vestments at All Saints also continue this tradition. There are some who consider the chasuble used at Lent to be the most beautiful of the new set.
Another tradition of Lent now well-established in All Saints Church is the use of the Lenten candle ring. The idea is similar to the familiar Advent ring. The Lent ring has six candles around the outer ring instead of four, representing the six weeks of Lent.
Ash Wednesday services this year were well supported with attendances totalling 92 at all services being higher than 2015.
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