Festivals and special services | Somersham, Woodhurst, Pidley & Old Hurst

The page says this pattern varies from year to year, and that the benefice diary has details closer to the time. What follows is the “typical year” published on that page. It is not a dated list for this year.

Passiontide and Easter

Palm Sunday. The Sunday before Easter Day. There is not a separate service at each church. People meet together at a different venue, often a barn, to watch or take part in an Easter drama following the events of Holy Week and Easter, then a simple all-age communion and a shared lunch. Time and place are in the diary closer to the time.

Holy Week. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Good Friday, people meet at a different church in the benefice each evening at 7pm for a reflection and short service.

Maundy Thursday. In the morning at 10am the ministers renew their vows and collect the holy oil at the Chrism service at Ely Cathedral. Anyone is welcome to attend, receive communion and receive a blessing with holy oil. In the evening at 7pm there is a shared supper, usually a lamb or vegetable casserole, and a Celtic-style communion at the back of Somersham church.

Good Friday.

10am Messy Easter at Somersham: crafts, a Holy Week trail, hot cross buns, singing and the Easter story. For all ages.
2–3pm “Last words at the cross” in the chancel of Pidley church.
7pm the final part of the Holy Week reflection, in one of the benefice churches.

Saturday evening before Easter Day. A light service. The new Paschal candle is lit in the porch from a small fire outside and brought into the dark church. People light their own candles from it, sit at the back, and listen to Old Testament readings and drama.

Easter Day. The resurrection is celebrated in all the churches. Children may make an Easter garden or take part in an Easter egg hunt. The day is celebrated in the Communion, with hymns and prayers.

Autumn

Remembrance Sunday. A service of Remembrance in each church, at different times in the diary. In Somersham, an act of Remembrance at the village war memorial at 11:00am, then a service in church with the British Legion and uniformed organisations, usually with Somersham Town Band.

Memorial service. A service of remembering on the afternoon or evening of All Souls Sunday, at the end of October or the beginning of November. Music, prayers, readings and lighting of candles. People who have been recently bereaved are contacted and names are read. You can ask for a name to be remembered, recent or not. Tea or coffee afterwards.

The diary has a “Remembering service” on Sunday 1 November 2026, 6:00–7:00pm. It does not name the church.

Advent and Christmas

Christingle. A Christingle light service in Somersham on or around Advent Sunday (end of November or beginning of December) at 4pm, supporting the Children’s Society. Baptism families are particularly encouraged. Refreshments at the end.

Crib service. 4pm on Christmas Eve at Somersham. Children and adults may dress up as a king, sheep, shepherd or angel. Some spare outfits are available. The page says it is popular, so come early.

Posada. Figures of Joseph and Mary from the church crib travel round Somersham from Advent Sunday, spending a night in someone’s house. The idea is to invite a neighbour or friend. On Christmas Eve they arrive for the crib service and then go to the stable for midnight communion.

Carol services. Held at each church. Readings and reflections, well-known carols, beginning in candlelight with the first verse of “Once in Royal David’s City”. Mulled wine and mince pies afterwards.

Christmas Eve. Crib service at 4pm, Somersham. Pidley carol service at 6pm. Midnight communion at Somersham and Woodhurst begins at 11:15pm. Old Hurst begins at 10:00pm.

Christmas Day. Two services: a family service with a short communion at 10:30am at Somersham, and also 10am at Pidley. The old page spelled Somersham “Somerham” in this sentence.

Plough Sunday. At Pidley on the second Sunday of January at 4pm. Farmers and their families are invited to come forward and touch the ploughshare as a prayer of blessing is said over the sowing of the seed. Children are welcome and can bring a tractor that fits in the church. Afterwards everyone goes to someone’s home for tea, cake and sandwiches.

TODO: content needed No times or places for this year’s Holy Week, Easter, Remembrance or Christmas services were in the diary beyond the general entries already listed (Remembering service, Christmas Tree Festival, carol events, and “Messy church” on 22 December 2026). A current list is needed from the Rector.