MORE than 30 services and events focused on Easter will take place in Salisbury Cathedral this year.

On March 23, the Salisbury Musical Society and Chelsea Opera Group Orchestra will perform Britten’s Spring Symphony and Rutter’s Mass of the Children at 7.30pm while on Palm Sunday (March 24), the 10.30am Eucharist of the Passion begins with the Liturgy of the Palms and the Palm Procession from Choristers’ Green in the Close into the Cathedral. Those attending should assemble on Choristers Green at 10.15am.

On March 25, 26 and 27 there are Holy Week Devotions at 7.30pm while on Maundy Thursday (March 28), the Bishop of Salisbury will preside at the 11am Eucharist of the Chrism and Re-affirmation of Vows. The Eucharist of the Last Supper is at 7.30pm and includes the Washing of Feet followed by the Stripping of the Altars.

This service is followed, until midnight, by the Watch of the Passion. There is a special service for children and their families on Good Friday (March 29), which will involve the Salisbury Cathedral Junior Choir at 10am.

Churches Together have arranged a Good Friday Walk of Witness which starts from the Cathedral’s West Front at 11am and moves to the Guildhall Square, and lasts half an hour. Easter Day, (March 31), begins with the Conclusion of the Easter Vigil at 4.30am.

The Dawn Liturgy will be at 5.30am on the lawn at the West Front of the Cathedral where a large bonfire is lit.

The Eucharist and Blessing of the Easter Garden is at 10.30am while the Festal Evensong will take place at 3pm. The complete cathedral choir of boys, girls and men are singing at both services.

In addition to the Bishop of Salisbury, Professor Sarah Coakley from the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge will be preaching at a number of services during the week.

Canon Precentor Tom Clammer said: “Holy Week itself will be a mix of quiet reflection and waiting, contrasted with dramatic liturgy, musical performances and children’s worship and we hope to welcome many hundreds of people to the Cathedral.”

For more information visit salisburycathedral.org.uk.