Please join in saying the words and singing the hymns printed in bold type.

The church is served by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T.

Photography, filming, and sound recording are not allowed in the Abbey during services. Please ensure that mobile telephones and other electronic devices are silent.

The service is sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey and the St Margaret's Choristers.

Setting: Mass in G minor, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)

During the offertory hymn, a collection will be taken; the money from today's services will be divided equally between Christian Aid and the work of the Abbey. Christian Aid exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty.

Order of Service

All stand as the choirs and clergy enter, and to sing the Hymn

Come down, O Love divine,
seek thou this soul of mine,
   and visit it with thine own ardour glowing;
O Comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
   and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
   to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
and let thy glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
   and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

Let holy charity
mine outward vesture be,
   and lowliness become mine inner clothing;
true lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part,
   and o'er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
   shall far outpass the power of human telling;
for none can guess its grace,
till he become the place
   wherein the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling.

Words: 'Discendi amor santo' Bianco da Siena (c 1350–1434) translated by Richard Littledale (1833–90)
Tune: 'Down Ampney' 137 NEH, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)

Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

There is one body and one spirit:
there is one hope to which we were called;

one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all.

Peace be with you
and also with you.

The choirs sing Gloria in excelsis Deo

Gloria in excelsis Deo,

All sit

et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.

Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te, gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam, Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens.

Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe; Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis; qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram; qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.

Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.

We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

All stand for the Collect

Let us pray.

All sit for the Reading from the Old Testament, Isaiah 65: 1–9

I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask,
   to be found by those who did not seek me.
I said, 'Here I am, here I am',
   to a nation that did not call on my name.
I held out my hands all day long
   to a rebellious people,
who walk in a way that is not good,
   following their own devices;
a people who provoke me
   to my face continually,
sacrificing in gardens
   and offering incense on bricks;
who sit inside tombs,
   and spend the night in secret places;
who eat swine's flesh,
   with broth of abominable things in their vessels;
who say, 'Keep to yourself,
   do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.'
These are a smoke in my nostrils,
   a fire that burns all day long.
See, it is written before me:
   I will not keep silent, but I will repay;
I will indeed repay into their laps
   their iniquities and their ancestors' iniquities together,
says the Lord;
because they offered incense on the mountains
   and reviled me on the hills,
I will measure into their laps
   full payment for their actions.
Thus says the Lord:
As the wine is found in the cluster,
   and they say, 'Do not destroy it,
   for there is a blessing in it',
so I will do for my servants' sake,
   and not destroy them all.
I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,
   and from Judah inheritors of my mountains;
my chosen shall inherit it,
   and my servants shall settle there.

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The choirs sing Psalm 22: 19–26

Antiphon I will tell of your name to my people; in the midst of the congregation will I praise you.

Be not far from me, O Lord!
   You are my strength; hasten to help me.
Deliver my soul from the sword,
   my poor life from the power of the dog!
Save me from the lion's mouth!
From the horns of wild oxen; you have answered me!

I will tell of your name to my people;
   in the midst of the congregation will I praise you:
   praise the Lord, you that fear him!
O seed of Jacob, glorify him;
   stand in awe of him, O seed of Israel!
For he has not despised nor abhorred
   the suffering of the poor;
neither has he hidden his face from them,
   but when they cried to him he heard them.

From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
   I will perform my vows in the presence of those that fear you.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
   those who seek the Lord shall praise him.
   Their hearts shall live for ever!

The Epistle, Galatians 3: 23–end

Before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.

All stand for the Procession of the Gospel. The choirs sing

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

and all repeat

We do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

The reader announces the Gospel, Luke 8: 26–39

Jesus and his disciples arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, 'What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me'—for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, 'What is your name?' He said, 'Legion'; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.

Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 'Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.' So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

The Sermon by The Right Reverend Martin Seeley, Honorary Assistant Bishop, Diocese of Ely

All remain seated for the Presentation of the Candidates. The candidates stand before the bishop who says

As members of this community you have come today to be baptised, to be confirmed, and to be received into the Church of England. Each of you has been nurtured here in the faith of the Church. Now you are to express for yourselves your allegiance to Christ and your rejection of all that is evil. Therefore I ask these questions:

The bishop asks the candidate for baptism

N, do you wish to be baptised?
I do.

The bishop asks the candidates for confirmation, and the candidate for reception

Have you been baptised in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit?
I have.

Are you ready with your own mouth and from your own heart to affirm your faith in Jesus Christ?
I am.

The bishop addresses the whole congregation

People of God, will you welcome these candidates and uphold them in their life in Christ?
With the help of God, we will.

The bishop says to the candidates

In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light. To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him. Therefore I ask:

Do you turn to Christ?
I turn to Christ.

Do you repent of your sins?
I repent of my sins.

Do you renounce evil?
I renounce evil.

The bishop makes the Sign of the Cross on the forehead of the candidate for baptism

Christ claims you for his own. Receive the sign of the cross. Do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified.
Fight valiantly as a disciple of Christ
against sin, the world, and the devil,
and remain faithful to Christ to the end of your life.

May almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness, restore in you the image of his glory, and lead you in the light and obedience of Christ. Amen.

All remain seated for the Prayer Over the Water

Praise God who made heaven and earth,
who keeps his promise for ever.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ was baptised in the river Jordan, we thank you for the gift of water to cleanse us and revive us. We thank you that through the waters of the Red Sea you led your people out of slavery to freedom in the Promised Land. We thank you that through the deep waters of death you brought your Son, and raised him to life in triumph. Bless this water, that your servants who are washed in it may be made one with Christ in his death and in his resurrection, to be cleansed and delivered from all sin. Send your Holy Spirit upon them, bring them to new birth in the household of faith, and raise them with Christ to full and eternal life; for all might, majesty, authority, and power are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

The bishop addresses the congregation

Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess together with these candidates the faith of the Church.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

N, is this your faith?
This is my faith.

The bishop pours water on the candidate, saying

N, I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

The bishop sprinkles the remaining candidates with holy water as a reminder of their baptism, then says

Almighty God, we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith with all who have been baptized into your name. Keep us faithful to our baptism, and so make us ready for that day when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The bishop stands before those who are to be confirmed, and says

Our help is in the name of the Lord
who has made heaven and earth.

Blessed be the name of the Lord
now and for ever. Amen.

The bishop extends his hands towards those to be confirmed, and says

Almighty and ever-living God, you have given these your servants new birth in baptism by water and the Spirit, and have forgiven them all their sins. Let your Holy Spirit rest upon them: the Spirit of wisdom and understanding; the Spirit of counsel and inward strength; the Spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and let their delight be in the fear of the Lord. Amen.

The bishop addresses each candidate

N, God has called you by name and made you his own.

Anointing with the oil of Chrism and laying his hands on the candidate's head, the bishop says

Confirm, O Lord, your servant with your Holy Spirit. Amen.

The candidate to be received into the Communion of the Church of England stands before the bishop, who says

You are here to be received into the communion of the Church of England.

Do you acknowledge the Church of England as part of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church?
I do.

Do you accept the teaching, discipline, and authority of the Church of England?
I do.

Will you take part with us in worship and mission?
I will.

The bishop extends his hands towards the candidate to be received and says

God of mercy and love, by one Spirit we have all been baptized into one body and made to drink of the one Spirit; we thank you for the gifts you have given to this your servant Leni for the building up of the body of Christ. Grant that she may continue in the life of the Spirit and walk with us in the light and obedience of Christ. By the same Spirit, fill the whole Church with your overflowing love; give us knowledge and discernment of your will, and steadfastness in your service, until we all come to the unity of the faith, to the measure of the full stature of Christ, through whom we make our prayer. Amen.

The bishop takes the hand of the candidate to be received, saying

N, we recognize you as a member of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church; and we receive you into the communion of the Church of England in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The bishop addresses those receiving a blessing, saying

N, may the light of Christ shine on you in your journey of faith; may he nourish you in word and sacrament and keep you in the household of faith; and may almighty God bless you; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, today and always. Amen.

When all have received the laying on of hands, the bishop invites the congregation to pray for those confirmed and who have been received

Defend, O Lord, these your servants with your heavenly grace, that they may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more until they come to your everlasting kingdom. Amen.

The bishop introduces the Peace

God is love and those who live in love live in God and God lives in them.

All may greet one another with the words Peace be with you.

All remain standing to sing the Hymn during the Preparation of the Altar. A collection will be taken. Alternatively, cash and contactless donations may be given as you leave via the Great West Door

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
   'Come unto me and rest;
lay down, thou weary one, lay down
   thy head upon my breast:'
I came to Jesus as I was,
   weary, and worn, and sad;
I found in him a resting-place,
   and he has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
   'Behold, I freely give
the living water, thirsty one;
   stoop down, and drink, and live:'
I came to Jesus, and I drank
   of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
   and now I live in him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
   'I am this dark world's Light;
look unto me, thy morn shall rise,
   and all thy day be bright:'
I looked to Jesus, and I found
   in him my Star, my Sun;
and in that light of life I'll walk
   till travelling days are done.

Words: Horatius Bonar (1808–89)
Tune: 'Kingsfold' 376 NEH, traditional melody

All remain standing for the Eucharistic Prayer. The president says

Father, we give you thanks and praise through your beloved Son Jesus Christ, your living Word, through whom you have created all things; who was sent by you in your great goodness to be our Saviour. By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh; as your Son, born of the blessed Virgin, he lived on earth and went about among us; he opened wide his arms for us on the cross; he put an end to death by dying for us; and revealed the resurrection by rising to new life; so he fulfilled your will and won for you a holy people. Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever praising you and saying:

The choirs sing Sanctus

Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth, pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The president continues the Eucharistic Prayer

Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness; grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit, and according to your holy will, these gifts of bread and wine may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;

who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died: Christ is risen: Christ will come again.

And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross, his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world; rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming in glory, we celebrate this memorial of our redemption. As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, we bring before you this bread and this cup and we thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you.

Send the Holy Spirit on your people and gather into one in your kingdom all who share this one bread and one cup, so that we, in the company of [N and] all the saints, may praise and glorify you for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

All remain standing. The president introduces the Lord's Prayer

As we join our prayers with those of the Church Universal, so we say, each in our own language, the prayer that Jesus Christ has taught us,

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

All remain standing for the Breaking of the Bread

The congregation is invited to sit as the president and other ministers begin the distribution of Holy Communion. Those wishing to receive come forward as directed by the Stewards. If you receive communion in your own church you are welcome to do so here. Gluten-free wafers are available. Please refrain from dipping the wafer in the chalice. Those who do not wish to receive communion are invited to come for a blessing; please bow your head as you approach. The minister says to each communicant

The body of Christ. Amen.

The blood of Christ. Amen.

During the giving of communion, the choirs sing Agnus Dei and the Motet

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.

The spirit of the Lord is upon me,
   because he hath anointed me
to preach the gospel to the poor:
   he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives,
   and recovering of sight to the blind,
to preach the acceptable year of the Lord;
   to give unto them that mourn a garland for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning,
   the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness,
that they might be called trees of righteousness,
   the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

For as the earth bringeth forth her bud,
   and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
   to spring forth before all the nations;
as the earth bringeth forth her bud.

Words: Isaiah 61: 1–3, 11
Music Edward Elgar (1857–1934) from 'The Apostles' Op 49

All stand to sing the Hymn

Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
   pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
   hold me with thy powerful hand:
      Bread of heaven,
   feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain
   whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fiery cloudy pillar
   lead me all my journey through:
      strong Deliverer,
   be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
   bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell's Destruction,
   land me safe on Canaan's side:
      songs of praises
   I will ever give to thee.

Words: 'Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch' William Williams (1717–91) translated by Peter Williams (1727–96) and others
Tune: 'Cwm Rhondda' 368 NEH, John Hughes (1873–1932)

Let us pray.

All remain standing. The president says the Prayer after Communion

The president pronounces the Blessing

The peace of God that passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and has given us a place with the saints in light. You have received the light of Christ; walk in this light all the days of your life.
Shine as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father.

Music after the service

Fugue in E flat BWV 552ii, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)

Choristerships at Westminster Abbey

St Margaret's Choristers

If you have a daughter aged 10 or 11 who would like to sing with the St Margaret's Choristers, please contact Mr Greg Morris, Director of Music, St Margaret's Church, [email protected]. Find out more about Music at St Margaret's Church.

The Choir of Westminster Abbey

If you have a son who enjoys singing, you can find out more information about our world-renowned Abbey Choir and its unique Choir School. Alternatively, please contact Dr Emma Margrett, Headteacher, Westminster Abbey Choir School, and Mr Andrew Nethsingha, Organist and Master of the Choristers, by emailing [email protected].

Sunday Lunch

Come and enjoy Sunday lunch at the Cellarium

The Cellarium Café and Terrace serves a traditional roast lunch, with a selection of starters and desserts. From £20.00 per person. Open from noon.

If you attend worship at the Abbey regularly, you may like to add this page to your home screen for easy access to our orders of service.

Hymns covered by Christian Copyright Licensing (International) Ltd are reproduced under CCL no 1040271 and MRL no 1040288. Common Worship (Church House Publishing, 2000), material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council. Scripture Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version.