Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. The weeks leading up to Easter have traditionally been characterised by self-examination and self-denial, by penitence and the study of scripture, and by preparation for Easter. These characteristics emerged from earliest times as a result of the Church’s use of Lent as a time for preparing candidates for baptism. Later, the spiritual value for all Christians of joining in with these preparations came to be recognised.

As a sign both of penitence and of commitment to the Lent journey, it became common from the middle ages for Christians to be marked in ash with the sign of the cross on their foreheads. We follow this practice tonight: all who wish to do so are invited to come forward for ashing during the Liturgy of Penitence.