Our devotions begin at 1.45 pm and last until around 3.00 pm, the time of Christ’s death on the cross. The service consists of three principal elements: the account of the Passion in St John’s Gospel, sung to plainchant with choral segments by Tomás Luis de Victoria; the solemn prayers, praying for all those for whom Christ died; and reflecting on and reverencing a physical cross, as the choir sings the traditional ‘reproaches.’ We will also sing some of the most beautiful hymns of the Passion together.

The cross is carried into church in a solemn procession, as we sing ‘Behold the wood of the cross, on which hung the salvation of the world;’ a very different procession from that which began the week on Palm Sunday.

There is no celebration of the Eucharist on Good Friday, but the sacrament from the Liturgy of Maundy Thursday, before which we kept watch the previous evening, is distributed to those who wish to receive; a reminder of Christ’s sacramental presence with us, even through the terrible darkness of Good Friday.

The priest ends the liturgy by singing the Gospel of the Burial of Christ. The cross will rest on the high altar to remain as a focus for devotion throughout the rest of the day.