Holy Week and Easter 2025

Holy Week is a time of deep reflection, as we recall Christ’s journey to the Cross and await the hope and light of Easter, the most important festival of the Christian year.

We warmly invite you to join us for services and events throughout this season, including the creation of a beautiful Easter Garden outside the Cathedral—an enduring symbol of resurrection and new life.

Guest preacher in Holy Week

We’re pleased to welcome Revd Dr Cally Hammond, Dean of Gonville and Caius College Cambridge, who will preach at the Eucharist of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, lead the Good Friday Devotion on Good Friday and then preach at the Good Friday liturgy that follows, and preach at the Easter Liturgy (5am) on Easter Day.

Palm Sunday, 13 April

08:00 Holy Communion

09:00 Font Service

09:15 Morning Prayer (said) in the Trinity Chapel

10:30 The Eucharist with Procession of Palms from Choristers’ Green

This service begins on Choristers’ Green, where palm crosses are distributed and blessed, before moving to the West Front of the Cathedral, recalling the procession of Jesus into Jerusalem on a donkey. In the service, we also hear the account of Jesus’ betrayal and abandonment, crucifixion and death from the Gospel according to Luke.

16:30 Choral Evensong

Monday of Holy Week, 14 April

07:30 Morning Prayer

07:45 Holy Communion

09:30-17:00 Praying the Psalms for Peace

17:30 Choral Evensong sung by Salisbury Cathedral Chamber Choir

19:30 Sarum Tenebrae: A Service of Shadows

A service with candles which are gradually extinguished, finishing in total darkness.
This is a service which is traditionally held during Holy Week.

Tuesday of Holy Week, 15 April

07:30 Morning Prayer

07:45 Holy Communion

12:00 Holy Communion

17:30 Choral Evensong sung by Salisbury Cathedral Lay Vicars

19:30 Compline sung by Salisbury Cathedral Youth Choir

Wednesday of Holy Week, 16 April

07:30 Morning Prayer

07:50 Holy Communion

17:30 Young People’s Stations of the Cross

Maundy Thursday, 17 April

Celebrating ministry and service, the Chrism Eucharist is an opportunity for the clergy and everyone to renew their commitment to Christian service as the clergy renew their ordination vows. The Bishop leads this service, and blesses oils for use in ministry in the following year. The evening Eucharist recalls Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. This service, beginning with a mood of intimacy, ends with the stripping of the altar and a procession to the Garden of Repose which recalls the Garden of Gethsemane. The Watch, where Christians keep vigil as did Christ the night before his crucifixion, takes place until midnight.

07:30 Morning Prayer

07:50 Holy Communion

11:00 Eucharist of the Chrism and Re-affirmation of Vows

17:30 Choral Evensong

19:30 The Eucharist of the Lord’s Supper

21:00 – 00:00 The Watch of the Passion

Good Friday, 18 April

All are welcome at 10am for a service at aimed at families and young children that tells the story of Good Friday. The Good Friday Devotion allows us, through prayer, music, silence, and the preacher’s words, to reflect on the suffering of Jesus and what it means for us. In the Liturgy of Good Friday symbols, words, and music enable us to accompany Jesus from his trial, to his death on the cross, and his burial in the tomb.

07:30 Morning Prayer

10:00 Children Service

12:00 Good Friday Devotion

13:30 The Liturgy of Good Friday

Holy Saturday, 19 April

The Cathedral is empty of all decoration for silent prayer. Visitors to the Cathedral on this day will be invited to spend a few moments of quiet reflection.

08:30 Morning Prayer

10:00 – 16:00 Meditation and Prayers

16:30 Evening Prayer

Easter Day, 20 April

At the end of the Easter Vigil, we move outside for the ‘sun arising in the East’. We kindle a fire, from which the Easter candle is lit, then enter the still-dark Cathedral and raise the candle as a sign of Jesus’ rising. New members of the church are baptized and confirmed. In the Eucharist at 10:30 the Easter Garden is blessed, and we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the empty tomb.

04:00 The Easter Vigil and Readings

05:00 The Easter Liturgy

08:00 Holy Communion

09:00 Font service

10:30 The Eucharist with Blessing of the Easter Garden

15:00 Festal Evensong

The Easter Garden

5 April until 8 June

Our popular Easter Garden will return to outside the Visitor Entrance into the Cloisters. The vision of Hampshire-based horticultural designer Andy McIndoe, the Mediterranean plants will draw visitors back to the landscape and story of Jesus. Three crosses and a sealed tomb will remind us of his sacrificial death and burial on Good Friday before the stone is rolled aside and the tomb opens on Easter Sunday as we recall Jesus’ defeat of death and promise of salvation. The garden will continue throughout the season of Eastertide.

Stations of the Resurrection

Outside in the Close from 20 April

Explore the Cathedral grounds to encounter a series of readings, prayers and reflections to take us deeper into the Easter story.

Children’s Easter Trail

Saturday 5 April until Tuesday 6 May. (during visiting hours, included in admission)

A reflective trail exploring Salisbury Cathedral during the festival of Easter.

Easter Crafts and Storytelling

Saturday 5 April from 10am-3pm

Get creative with Easter-themed crafts and an opportunity to make an Easter card for somebody special. There will be two short storytelling sessions bringing to life the Easter story for your little ones at 11am and 2pm. Free, included with general admission ticket.

Family Services

Sundays at 09:00 Font Service

Good Friday, 18 April 10:00 Family Service

Wednesday of Holy Week, 16 April 17:30 Young People’s Stations of the Cross