Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Easter Services Westminster/St Pauls??

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Easter Services Westminster/St Pauls??

I really like the idea of going to an Easter Service while in London. Another post mentioned St Paul's. Does anyone know if the public would be welcome at Westminster Abbey? Or does anyone have another suggestion of a church to attend? What about dress for the service? What can we expect -- this would be a new experience, but a wonderful, memorable one. Thanks.

The "public" is welcomed to any church service anywhere in the counrty, Westminster Abbey included. The only exceptions are ocassional private memorial services open to invitees only.

Since you asked for other suggestions, St. Martin-in-the-Fields on Trafalgar Square is another interesting church. At noon every Sunday, including Easter, they have a Visitors to London service. http://207.228.254.57/jserv/worship/index.jsp Have a lovely time in London!

http://www.westminster-abbey.org/ Does anyone know when the Abbey was opened to the general public, as opposed to limited to members of the royal court only?

Thanks everyone for the replies. I've checked out the Westminster website & now we're considering morning Easter service at St Margarets -- and the organ recital at the Abbey later in the day. Has anyone ever attended a service at either of these? Will check out St Martin-in-the-Fields too. Thanks.

Oops. One more question. What would be the appropriate dress for women? Are we talking strictly dresses & heels... or can we get away with nice dress slacks & coats?? Thanks.

I find St Paul?s a bit ornate and irreligious, so prefer Southwark Cathedral, over the road from London Bridge station. All three have services at Easter to which everybody is welcome. Nobody cares what worshippers wear: this is divine service, not Ascot, and not only nice but also nasty pairs of slacks are welcome. Truly wicked pairs of slacks would require absolution after the General Confession. St Martin in the Fields does indeed serve visitors well, but of course their service for tourists has not the formality and tradition of the cathedral and Abbey services. St Margaret?s is imply a very good parish church: Easter music is better and the service is more glorious in the two cathedrals. This well-informed correspondence has given two websites. I add two more http://www.dswark.org/ http://www.stpauls.co.uk/ I think that in legal detail everybody is entitled to come to an Anglican parish church, but that cathedrals and such Royal Peculiars as the Abbey may exclude people if they so choose. No worry: at Easter they do not so choose, and attendance at services calls for no tickets. Members of the royal court, such as ladies in waiting and the Lord Chamberlain have no times dedicated to their presence at the Abbey. They may go when the public goes, or to services to which they?re invited, but may not phone the Dean to say they plan to drop in during closing time for a spot of sightseeing. Nor in practice may the Queen, though it would make a nice case in canon law if she tried it. I think the precedent used would be that of a bishop of an old diocese, who may not attend service in his own cathedral without the consent of the Dean and Chapter. When your founding fathers decided to make no establishment as to religion they deprived you of much entertaining law. Please write if I can comment further. Welcome to London, or welcome back. Ben Haines

How about Bromptom Oratory ?? Am I spelling it correctly? This is the CAtholic church. How would the Easter services be there as opposed to St. Pauls?

One thing to remember - we all have our own "prejudices" and Ben is a big fan of Southwark. Southwark IS fabulous, but to say St Pauls is irreligious is nuts. I find St Pauls absolutely Awe inspiring. The medieaval cathedrals are wonderful, but the light flooding into St Pauls and the dome are unbelievable. As for the Brompton Oratory, it is interesting to attend, but not the same as one of the cathedrals or ancient churches. Westminster Cathedral (the Catholic cathedral as opposed to the Abbey) can be dissapointing - it is very Byzantine looking and dark inside. Dress can be anything but a little dressier at Easter. You will be fine in conservative slacks, nice blouse and a pretty scarf, pashmina or shawl

Thank you again everyone for the helpful comments! I'd be interested in hearing anyone's experience with attending an Easter service at either St Margaret's or Westminster Abbey. I think we're leaning toward one of the two. Westminster is listed as having an organ recital at 5:45 Easter night also. Thanks.