The Church’s Year begins with Advent, just as the secular, calendar year draws to a close.
© Ryan Watts
During the course of each year the Cathedral celebrates key seasons and religious festivals as well as the daily round of core services. These highlights of the Church’s year are marked by special services incorporating appropriate prayers and readings and other symbolic gestures such as processions, special vestments, banners and altar frontals. These occasions are identified in our weekly service scheme.
Religious festivals include Saints’ Days, usually marking the date of the Saint’s death, and days which are of particular significance to Christians such as Christmas and Easter.
The key seasons in the Church’s Year
The key seasons are as follows:
• Advent
• Christmas
• Lent
• Easter
• Ordinary time
To find out more about each season please click on the title.
The symbolic importance of colour in the Church’s Year
The colour of the altar frontals and the vestments worn by clergy are determined by the season of the Church’s year and the occasion:
Green
The colour of nature – used at ordinary times of the year
Red
The colour of the Holy Spirit - used at Pentecost and days commemorating Apostles and martyrs
Purple or unbleached
Linen the colour of penitence– used at Lent and Advent
White or Gold
The colour of festivals and special occasions – Christmas, Easter, weddings, confirmations