Holy Week 2026 at Nottingham Cathedral
A Complete Guide to Services, Liturgies, and Devotions
Dear Friends,
As we enter Holy Week, we are invited to encounter the Lord in a profound way through the sacred liturgies of these most holy days. I am pleased to share details of all the liturgies, confession times, and devotions for the coming week.
Bishop Patrick will be celebrating the principal liturgies, and the Music Department has prepared a beautiful programme of music to accompany our celebrations. These days offer us a unique opportunity to walk alongside Christ from Palm Sunday to Easter, deepening our journey as disciples of the Risen Lord.
Holy Week is not just for us alone – it is a call to mission. I encourage you to join us in person and to invite family, friends, and neighbours to experience these sacred mysteries with us. Please do share this information widely as an invitation for others to encounter Christ during this holiest of weeks. All are most welcome.
May this Holy Week be a time of deep encounter, faithful discipleship, and joyful mission for us all. Scroll down for all
Wishing you a blessed Holy Week and a Happy Easter.
Canon Malachy Brett
Dean, Nottingham Cathedral
Holy Week at a Glance: Complete Schedule of Services
PALM SUNDAY
Saturday 28th March
Vigil of Palm Sunday
- 5.30pm–6.15pm — Confessions
- 6.30pm — Vigil Mass [organ]
Sunday 29th March — Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Masses:
-
8am — Mass
-
10am — Family Mass [organ & cantor]
Mass of St Peter - Archer -
11.15am — Solemn Mass ✠ [Cathedral Choir]
Bishop Patrick will celebrate with blessing of palms and procession
Music: Victoria: Pueri Hebraeorum, Anerio: Christus factus est, Leighton: Solus ad victimam, Victoria: O vos omnes
Additional pieces: Hosanna Filio David, Sanctus Agnus XI, Pater si non potest, Attende Domine -
6pm — Mass [organ & cantor]
Oratory Mass - Martin
Devotions:
- 4pm — Stations of the Cross
Monday 30th March
Monday of Holy Week
- 12noon–12.50pm — Confessions
- 1pm — Mass
Tuesday 31st March
Tuesday of Holy Week
- 12noon–12.50pm — Confessions
- 1pm — Mass
- 6pm–7pm — Confessions
CHRISM MASS
Wednesday 1st April
- 11.30am — Chrism Mass [Cathedral Choir, Children's Choir, Diocesan Choir]
Bishop Patrick will gather with priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful
Music: W Lloyd Webber: Missa Princeps Pacis, Ogden: Christ has no body now, Nardone: A new commandment
Additional pieces: Dilexisti iustitiam, Gloria VII / Lécot, O redemptor
No Confessions Today
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Thursday 2nd April
- 10am–12noon — Confessions
- 7pm — Mandatum Mass of the Lord's Supper ✠ [Cathedral Choir]
Washing of feet ceremony
Music: Byrd: Mass for four voices, Tallis: A new commandment, Giela: Ubi caritas, Byrd: Ave verum, Victoria: Pange lingua
Additional pieces: Nos autem, Gloria VIII Sanctus XI, Hoc corpus
After Mass:
- Watch before the Altar of Repose until 10pm
GOOD FRIDAY
Friday 3rd April
-
10am — Walk of Witness (details below)
-
10.30am–12noon — Confessions
-
3pm — Solemn Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord ✠ [Cathedral Choir]
Music: Tallis: Lamentationes Jeremiae, Tallis: Salvator mundi, Victoria: O vos omnes
Additional pieces: Christus factus est, Ecce lignum Crucis -
7pm — Confessions and Stations of the Cross
HOLY SATURDAY
Saturday 4th April
- 9.30am — Tenebrae
- 10.30am–12noon — Confessions
- 8pm — The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night and The First Mass of Easter ✠
Music: Vierne: Messe Solennelle, Reid: Victimae paschali, Palestrina: Regina caeli
Additional pieces: Vidi aquam, Sanctus Agnus VIII, Pascha nostrum
EASTER SUNDAY
Sunday 5th April
Masses:
-
8am — Mass of Easter Day
-
10am — Family Mass ✠ [organ & cantor]
Bishop Patrick will celebrate
Mass of St Peter - Archer -
11.15am — Solemn Mass [Cathedral Choir]
Music: Schubert: Mass in G, Stanford: Ye choirs of new Jerusalem, Palestrina: Regina caeli
Additional pieces: Resurrexi, Vidi aquam, Sanctus Agnus VIII, Pascha Nostrum -
6pm — Mass [organ & cantor]
Oratory Mass - Martin
Music for Holy Week
The Music Department has prepared a stunning programme of sacred music to accompany our Holy Week liturgies. Highlights include Victoria's Pueri Hebraorum on Palm Sunday, W Lloyd Webber's Missa Princeps Pacis at the Chrism Mass on Wednesday, and Tallis's profound Lamentations for Good Friday's Solemn Liturgy of the Passion. Easter Sunday will feature Schubert's glorious Mass in G alongside Stanford's Ye choirs of new Jerusalem, with works by Palestrina, Byrd, and other masters enriching our celebrations throughout the week. View the full music list here to discover all the beautiful pieces planned for each service.
Confession Times
Extra confession times are available throughout Holy Week. Pope Benedict XVI said that "a good confession before Easter remains an obligation that should be fully valued and gives us the opportunity to start anew".
Holy Week Confession Schedule:
- Saturday 28th March: 5.30pm–6.15pm
- Monday 30th March: 12noon–12.50pm
- Tuesday 31st March: 12noon–12.50pm, 6pm–7pm
- Wednesday 1st April: No Confessions
- Maundy Thursday 2nd April: 10am–12noon
- Good Friday 3rd April: 10.30am–12noon, 7pm onwards
- Holy Saturday 4th April: 10.30am–12noon
Confessions are also available by appointment at Cathedral House if these times are not convenient.
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross help us to meditate more fully on the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. The Cathedral is pleased to offer this devotion twice during the coming days and we encourage you to attend.
- Palm Sunday, 29th March: 4pm
- Good Friday, 3rd April: 7pm
Nottingham Walk of Witness
Good Friday, 3rd April
Join this inaugural ecumenical walk from Nottingham Cathedral (9.45am) through Market Square to St. Mary's Church, Lace Market. Led by Bishop Patrick McKinney and Bishop Andy Emerton, joined by HM Lord Lieutenant Professor Veronica Pickering. A united public witness to Christ's sacrifice. Concludes by 12 noon. All welcome.
Reflections on Holy Week
Deacon David Kerry, our Parish Deacon, has kindly put together a short set of reflections entitled 'A Journey Through Holy Week' to help you enter more deeply into the mysteries of this great week.
