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Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent in the christian church. While the service traditions date back to the 11th century, the tradition of receiving ashes as an outward sign of repentance dates back thousands of years. The ashes used during the Ash Wednesday liturgy are derived from burning palm crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday liturgy. The ashes are placed on foreheads in the sign of a cross by a priest. These words are often spoken: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

See below to watch a short Ash Wednesday sermon with Bishop Anna Greenwood-Lee.

Ash Wednesday services at St Mary's are 11:00am and 7:00pm, both in the Chapel (entrance through the garden)