Services at St Stephen’s

Advent 2024 to date

Archives: 2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20

St Stephen’s has been at the centre of its community for over 900 years, and remains so today. Our mission is to equip God’s people through thoughtful worship, warm fellowship, and enriching teaching. We are a church with a thriving robed choir of an excellent standard. If you are 9 months or 90 years old, or anywhere in between, we look forward to welcoming you!

Sunday10.30amSung Eucharist *
6.00pmChoral Evensong *
Wednesday10.00amHoly Communion (said)
* Live-streamed for those who are unable to attend church in person but still wish to share in our worship. For specific links for each service, please see the service details below.

Lectionary Year C

The Fourth Sunday before Lent
Sunday 9th February 2025

10.30am Sung Eucharist
President and Preacher: Canon David Roper
Setting: The Canterbury Service – Barker
Anthem: Vox Christi – Wilby
Hymns: 345, 390 (t. 493), 353, 276ii, 361 (t. 322)
Voluntary: Alla marcia – Ireland

6.00pm Choral Evensong
Sung by the Sopranos and Altos
Responses: Ripon – Wilby
Psalm 2
Canticles: Bairstow in E-flat
Anthem: Fairest Lord Jesus – Silesian folk song arr. How
Hymns: 480 (t. 15), 235
Voluntary: Postlude on a theme by Orlando Gibbons – Tambling

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)
Sunday 2nd February 2025

10.30am Festal Sung Eucharist and Confirmation
President and Preacher: The Rt. Rev. Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover
Introit: Arise, shine, for your light has come – How
Setting: The Canterbury Service – Barker
Psalm 24 vv. 7–10
Anthem: When to the temple Mary went – Eccard
Hymns: 33 (omit vv. 2, 3 & 6; last verse CfC2), 138, 271, 140, ‘Christ be our light’
Voluntary: Toccata – Dubois

6.00pm Festal Choral Evensong
Responses: Ayleward
Psalm 132
Canticles: Brewer in D
Anthem: Hail, gladdening light – Stainer
Hymns: 156 (t. 149ii), 157
Voluntary: Light of the nations – Moore

The Third Sunday of Epiphany
Sunday 26th January 2025

The Second Sunday of Epiphany
Sunday 19th January 2025

The Baptism of Christ
Sunday 12th January 2025

The Epiphany
Sunday 5th January 2025

St Thomas of Canterbury
Sunday 29th December 2024

CHRISTMAS DAY
Wednesday 25th December 2024

Christmas Eve
Tuesday 24th December 2024

The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Sunday 22nd December 2024

The Third Sunday of Advent
Sunday 15th December 2024

The Second Sunday of Advent
Sunday 8th December 2024

The First Sunday of Advent
Sunday 1st December 2024

10.30am Festal Sung Eucharist
President and Preacher: Rev. Dr David Vannerley, Interim Priest-in-Charge
Introit: I look from afar – adapted from a Magnificat by Palestrina
Setting: St Anne’s Mass – MacMillan
Anthem: The truth from above – trad. English carol, arr. Vaughan Williams
Hymns: 11, 3ii, 7, 298, 9
Voluntary: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (BWV 645) – J. S. Bach

6.00pm ‘From Darkness to Light’ — A Service for Advent
The Advent Antiphons
I look from afar – adapted from a Magnificat by Palestrina
A tender shoot – Goldschmidt
O thou the central orb – Wood
O radiant dawn – MacMillan
Dismissal – Barker
Hymns 19 (omit vv. 5 & 7), 7, 12, ‘O come, O come, Emmanuel’, 9
Voluntary: Toccata on ‘Veni Emmanuel’ – Carter