Main MenuThe Vicar’s Epistle for Lent
| Dearly Beloved Parishioners, ‘In the primitive Church there was a godly discipline, that, at the beginning of Lent, such persons as stood convicted of notorious sin were put to open penance, and punished in this world, that their souls might be saved in the day of the Lord; and that others, admonished by their example, might be the more afraid to offend.’ So begins the cheery Commination Service found in our belov’d BCP. As much as I’d be thrilled to see the return of the Church Wardens’ Lockup outside of the Old Church, where those of notorious behaviour used to be thrown after a big night at the Pig’s Ear, it seems that times have moved on a little. The very theological germ of the service of Commination’s passing from fashion is found within its phrases: ‘Turn thou us, O good Lord, and so shall we be turned. Be favourable, O Lord, Be favourable to thy people, Who turn to thee in weeping, fasting, and praying. For thou art a merciful God, Full of compassion, long-suffering, and of great pity. Thou sparest when we deserve punishment, And in thy wrath thinkest upon mercy.’ It turns out that, because of God’s mercy, ‘though our sins be as red as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow’. What a relief. What hasn’t changed is that Lent is a time for prayer, fasting, and self-reflection, of turning to our Lord who will have mercy, to our God who will richly pardon. This means that, while we won’t be putting folk in the stocks for nicking Custard Creams from the vestry, we will be offering members of the congregation at tonight’s Ash Wednesday service of Holy Communion the opportunity to receive the sign of the cross in ashes on their foreheads. It’s a less verbose reminder of our mortality than the Commination. “Thou art but dust and to dust thou shalt return, turn away from sin and be faithful unto Christ” the priest shall say as the cross is sketched. Below is a round up of some of the things happening in Lent and Holy Week. We hope you will be able to join us and that the Lord bless you, and keep you; the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you, and give you peace, now and for evermore. Ash Wednesday Service (Holy Communion with the Imposition of Ashes) will be held on 18th February (TONIGHT) at 7pm our Preacher will be our Curate, The Reverend Professor Jenny Gallagher. The ashes that we receive on our heads are made by burning the palms that were blessed on Palm Sunday in the previous year. The First Sunday in Lent, 22nd February our Preacher at Holy Communion and Mattins will be our Vicar, The Reverend Max Bayliss The First Sunday in Lent, 22nd February at 5.30pm Organ Recital by Luke Bond (St George’s Chapel, Windsor) plays music by J.S. Bach and Mendelssohn followed by 6pm Choral Evensong – featuring music by Praetorius, Sch?tz, JS Bach and Rheinberger.at 7pm. Our Preacher will be our Vicar, The Reverend Max Bayliss The Second Sunday in Lent, 1st March our Preacher at all of our services will be our Vicar, The Reverend Max Bayliss The Church has bought a votive candle stand so that people can light candles, perhaps in memory of a loved one. After a very generous donation of books recently, we have decided to raise money for the stand with a second-hand book sale. The sale is at 12 noon on Sunday 1st March in Petyt Hall. Please do come along! There will be light refreshments. The Third Sunday in Lent, 8th March our Preacher at Holy Communion and Mattins will be our Assistant Priest, The Reverend David Bell, and our Preacher at Evensong will be our Lay Reader, Tim Gee The Fourth Sunday in Lent (Mothering Sunday), 15th March our Preacher at all of our services will be our Vicar, The Reverend Max Bayliss Lent Lecture & Supper on Wednesday 18th March 2026 at 7pm Please sign up in the porch and join us for an engaging and thought-provoking talk by The Very Reverend Dr Mark Oakley, Dean of Southwark, followed by questions and discussion. Prior to his appointment in 2023 as Dean, Dr Oakley has served in many roles including Chaplain to the Bishop of London, Rector of the Actors’ church in Covent Garden, Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral and Dean of St John’s College, Cambridge. Dr Oakley holds a PhD in English Literature and is an admired author of several books on poetry and spirituality. He is well known as a speaker and preacher and has been awarded both the Michael Ramsey Prize for theological writing and the Lanfranc award by the Archbishop of Canterbury for education and scholarship. After the talk there is a supper in Petyt Hall. Free of charge with donations gratefully received. The Fifth Sunday in Lent, 22nd March, our Preacher at Holy Communion and Mattins will be our Curate, The Reverend Professor Jenny Gallagher Passion Meditation – Sunday 22nd March at 6pm. A preparation for Holy Week and Easter with two masterpieces of Baroque music, J.S. Bach’s Jesu, meine Freude and Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu nostril, with a short reflection by our Lay Reader, Tim Gee HOLY WEEK & EASTER SERVICES Sunday 29th March: The Sunday next before Easter – PALM SUNDAY 10.30am A joint service of Family and Mattins Congregations with the procession of Donkeys, please meet in Ropers Garden. 6pm Evensong Our Vicar, The Reverend Max Bayliss will preach at all of our Palm Sunday Services. Our Holy Week Preacher is The Reverend John Summers, Fellow, and Deputy Senior Tutor at Trinity College, Cambridge. He will be with us for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Day. Thursday 2nd April – MAUNDY THURSDAY 8am Holy Communion 7pm Holy Communion of the Last Supper with Choir and Address Friday 3rd April – GOOD FRIDAY 10am Family Service 12-3pm The Three Hours by the Cross with Choir Sunday 5th April – EASTER DAY 8am Holy Communion 10am Family Service 11am Easter Day Communion 6pm Evensong  The Reverend Max Bayliss Vicar Chelsea Old Church CONTACTS VICAR The Reverend Max Bayliss vicar@chelseaoldchurch.org.uk PARISH ADMINISTRATOR Sophie Wilson office@chelseaoldchurch.org.uk 020 7795 1019 Copyright © 2026 Chelsea Old Church. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 64 Cheyne Walk Chelsea London SW3 5LT www.chelseaoldchurch.org.uk 020 7795 1019 |