Worship

Worship at St Thomas' is in the more orthodox Anglo-Catholic tradition and all our worship centres on the Mass, or Holy Communion. The main parish Mass at 10.00 on a Sunday typically lasts about an hour and a quarter and includes hymns, music sung by the choir, a sermon, and some incense. Most weeks there is a self-run creche and Sunday school. The earlier 8.00 mass is shorter, with no hymns although there is a sermon.

Holy Communion is also celebrated during the week - these are shorter services lasting about half an hour.

On Tuesdays the service has become popular with young parents who enjoy the less formal service with a hymn or two.

On Wednesdays the mass is preceded by the Angelus and followed by a ploughman's lunch. 

The early Friday service is a beautiful and prayerful start to the day.

Saturday morning Eucharists follow a pattern - The first Saturday is dedicated to Our Lady of Walsingham; the third Saturday is a healing Mass; the last Saturday is a Requiem Mass.  Other Saturdays follow the usual lectionary provisions.

The order for every Mass follows Common Worship Order One.

Music plays a very important part in our worship. St Thomas' has four choirs and an orchestra, which assist our worship at the Sunday Sung Mass and Choral Evensong and on special occasions.

On the first Sunday of the month our service of Choral Evensong leads into Benediction, a service of Eucharistic adoration at which a blessing is given with the consecrated host. On festival Sundays Evensong is Solemn, that is, with incense.