Liturgical year of the Church of England
The
Church of England commemorates many of the same
saints as those in the
General Roman Calendar , mostly on the same days, but also commemorates various notable (often post-
Reformation ) Christians who have not been
canonised by
Rome , with a particular though not exclusive emphasis on those of
English origin. There are differences in the calendars of other churches of the
Anglican Communion (see
Saints in Anglicanism ).
The only person canonised in a near-conventional sense by the Church of England since the
English Reformation is
King Charles the Martyr (
King Charles I ), although he is not widely recognised by Anglicans as a saint outside the
Society of King Charles the Martyr . The Church of England has no mechanism for canonising saints, and unlike the Roman Catholic Church it makes no claims regarding the heavenly status of those whom it commemorates in its calendar. For this reason, the Church of England avoids the use of the prenominal title "Saint" with reference to uncanonised individuals and is restrained in what it says about them in its
liturgical texts. In order not to seem to imply grades of sanctity, or to discriminate between holy persons of the pre- and post-Reformation periods, the title "Saint" is not used at all in the calendar, even with reference to those who have always been known by that title, for example the
Apostles .
No
Old Testament figures are commemorated in the Church of England calendar, but the litany "Thanksgiving for the Holy Ones of God" (included in Common Worship: Times and Seasons on pp. 558–560, immediately after "The Eucharist of All Saints") includes ten names from before Christ, so they are presumably not excluded on principle, and could be considered among the saints.
The ninth
Lambeth Conference held in 1958 clarified the commemoration of Saints and Heroes of the Christian Church in the Anglican Communion. Resolution 79 stated:
In the case of scriptural saints, care should be taken to commemorate men or women in terms which are in strict accord with the facts made known in Holy Scripture. In the case of other names, the Kalendar should be limited to those whose historical character and devotion are beyond doubt. In the choice of new names economy should be observed and controversial names should not be inserted until they can be seen in the perspective of history. The addition of a new name should normally result from a widespread desire expressed in the region concerned over a reasonable period of time.
[1]
There is no single calendar for the various churches making up the
Anglican Communion ; each makes its own calendar suitable for its local situation. As a result, the calendar here contains a number of figures important in the history of the English church. Calendars in different provinces will focus on figures more important to those different countries. At the same time, different provinces often borrow important figures from each other's calendars as the international importance of different figures becomes clear. In this way the calendar of the Church of England has importance beyond the immediate purpose of supporting the liturgy of the English Church. It is, for example, one of the key sources of the calendar for the international daily office Oremus.
[2]
Holy Days are variously categorised as
Principal Feasts ,
Festivals ,
Lesser Festivals , or
Commemorations . In order to minimise problems caused by the ambivalence regarding the manner of commemoration of uncanonised persons, all such days are Lesser Festivals or Commemorations only, whose observance is optional.
The following table lists the Holy Days in the calendar of
Common Worship , the calendar most generally followed in the Church of England (though the calendar of the
Book of Common Prayer is still authorised for use). This calendar was finalised in 2000, with some further names added in 2010. Individual dioceses and societies may suggest additional observances for local use, but these are not included here. The table includes the feast date, the name of the person or persons being commemorated, their title, the nature and location of their ministry or other relevant facts, and year of death, all in the form in which they are set out in the authorised Common Worship calendar. The typography shows the level of the observance: BOLD CAPITALS denote Principal Feasts and Principal Holy Days, bold denotes Festivals, roman denotes Lesser Festivals, and italics denote Commemorations. SMALL CAPITALS denote observances that are unclassified.
Moveable dates
The Baptism of Christ , the Sunday following the Epiphany (when the Epiphany is kept on 6 January)
ASH WEDNESDAY , the Wednesday 46 days before Easter Day
MAUNDY THURSDAY , the Thursday in the week before Easter Day
GOOD FRIDAY , the Friday in the week before Easter Day
EASTER DAY , the first Sunday after the
Paschal full moon
ASCENSION DAY , the Thursday forty days after Easter Day
DAY OF PENTECOST , the Sunday fifty days after Easter Day
TRINITY SUNDAY , the Sunday after Pentecost
The Day of Thanksgiving for the Institution of Holy Communion (Corpus Christi) , the Thursday after Trinity Sunday
Dedication Festival , the first Sunday in October or the Last Sunday after Trinity, if date unknown
Christ the King , the Sunday next before Advent
January
1
The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus
2
Basil the Great and
Gregory of Nazianzus ,
Bishops , Teachers of the Faith, 379 and 389
2
Seraphim ,
Monk of
Sarov , Spiritual Guide, 1833
2
Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah ,
Bishop in
South India ,
Evangelist , 1945
6
THE EPIPHANY – may be celebrated on the Sunday between 2 and 8 January
10
William Laud ,
Archbishop of Canterbury , 1645
11
Mary Slessor ,
Missionary in
West Africa , 1915
12
Aelred of Hexham ,
Abbot of
Rievaulx , 1167
12
Benedict Biscop , Abbot of
Wearmouth , Scholar, 689
13
Hilary ,
Bishop of Poitiers , Teacher of the Faith, 367
13
Kentigern (Mungo),
Missionary Bishop in
Strathclyde and
Cumbria , 603
13
George Fox , Founder of the
Society of Friends (the Quakers), 1691
17
Antony of Egypt ,
Hermit , Abbot, 356
17
Charles Gore , Bishop, Founder of the
Community of the Resurrection , 1932
18–25
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
18
Amy Carmichael , Founder of the
Dohnavur Fellowship , Spiritual Writer, 1951
19
Wulfstan ,
Bishop of Worcester , 1095
20
Richard Rolle of
Hampole , Spiritual Writer, 1349
21
Agnes , Child
Martyr at
Rome , 304
22
Vincent of Saragossa ,
Deacon ,
first Martyr of
Spain , 304
24
Francis de Sales ,
Bishop of Geneva , Teacher of the Faith, 1622
25
The Conversion of Paul
26
Timothy and
Titus , Companions of Paul
28
Thomas Aquinas ,
Priest ,
Philosopher , Teacher of the Faith, 1274
30
Charles, King and Martyr , 1649
31
John Bosco , Priest, Founder of the
Salesian Teaching Order , 1888
February
1
Brigid of Kildare ,
Abbess of
Kildare , c.525
2
THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE (Candlemas) – may be celebrated on the Sunday between 28 January and 3 February
3
Anskar ,
Archbishop of Bremen ,
Missionary in
Denmark and
Sweden , 865
4
Gilbert of Sempringham , Founder of the
Gilbertine Order , 1189
6
The Martyrs of Japan , 1597
10
Scholastica , sister of
Benedict ,
Abbess of
Plombariola , c.543
14
Cyril and Methodius , Missionaries to the
Slavs , 869 and 885
14
Valentine ,
Martyr at
Rome , c.269
15
Sigfrid ,
Bishop , Apostle of Sweden, 1045
15
Thomas Bray ,
Priest , Founder of the
SPCK and the
SPG , 1730
17
Janani Luwum ,
Archbishop of Uganda , Martyr, 1977
23
Polycarp , Bishop of
Smyrna , Martyr, c.155
27
George Herbert , Priest, Poet, 1633
Alternative dates:
Matthias may be celebrated on 24 February instead of 14 May.
March
1
David ,
Bishop of Menevia ,
Patron of
Wales , c.601
2
Chad ,
Bishop of Lichfield ,
Missionary , 672
5
Piran ,
Abbot ,
Patron of
Cornwall , c.480
7
Perpetua, Felicity and their Companions,
Martyrs at
Carthage , 203
8
Edward King ,
Bishop of Lincoln , 1910
8
Felix , Bishop, Apostle to the
East Angles , 647
8
Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy , Priest, Poet, 1929
17
Patrick , Bishop,
Missionary , Patron of
Ireland , c.460
18
Cyril ,
Bishop of Jerusalem , Teacher of the Faith, 386
19
Joseph of Nazareth
20
Cuthbert ,
Bishop of Lindisfarne , Missionary, 687
21
Thomas Cranmer ,
Archbishop of Canterbury ,
Reformation Martyr, 1556
24
Walter Hilton of
Thurgarton ,
Augustinian
Canon , Mystic, 1396
24
Paul Couturier , Priest, Ecumenist, 1953
24
Óscar Romero ,
Archbishop of San Salvador , Martyr, 1980
25
THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LORD TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
26
Harriet Monsell , Founder of the
Community of St John the Baptist , 1883
31
John Donne , Priest, Poet, 1631
Alternative dates:
Chad may be celebrated with Cedd on 26 October instead of 2 March. Cuthbert may be celebrated on 4 September instead of 20 March.
April
1
Frederick Denison Maurice ,
Priest , Teacher of the Faith, 1872
9
Dietrich Bonhoeffer ,
Lutheran
Pastor ,
Martyr , 1945
10
William Law , Priest, Spiritual Writer, 1761
10
William of Ockham ,
Friar ,
Philosopher , Teacher of the Faith, 1347
11
George Selwyn , first
Bishop of New Zealand , 1878
16
Isabella Gilmore ,
Deaconess , 1923
19
Alphege ,
Archbishop of Canterbury , Martyr, 1012
21
Anselm ,
Abbot of
Le Bec , Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher of the Faith, 1109
23
George , Martyr,
Patron of
England , c.304
24
Mellitus ,
Bishop of London , first Bishop at
St Paul's , 624
24
The Seven Martyrs of the Melanesian Brotherhood ,
Solomon Islands , 2003
25
Mark the Evangelist
27
Christina Rossetti ,
Poet , 1894
28
Peter Chanel , Missionary in the
South Pacific , Martyr, 1841
29
Catherine of Siena , Teacher of the Faith, 1380
30
Pandita Mary Ramabai , Translator of the
Scriptures , 1922
May
1
Philip and
James ,
Apostles
2
Athanasius ,
Bishop of Alexandria , Teacher of the Faith, 373
4
English Saints and Martyrs of the
Reformation Era
8
Julian of Norwich , Spiritual Writer, c.1417
12
Gregory Dix , Priest, Monk, Scholar, 1952
14
Matthias the Apostle
16
Caroline Chisholm , Social Reformer, 1877
19
Dunstan ,
Archbishop of Canterbury , Restorer of Monastic Life, 988
20
Alcuin of
York ,
Deacon ,
Abbot of
Tours , 804
21
Helena , Protector of the Holy Places, 330
24
John and
Charles Wesley ,
Evangelists ,
Hymn Writers, 1791 and 1788
25
The Venerable Bede ,
Monk at
Jarrow , Scholar, Historian, 735
25
Aldhelm ,
Bishop of Sherborne , 709
26
Augustine , first Archbishop of Canterbury, 605
26
John Calvin , Reformer, 1564
26
Philip Neri , Founder of the
Oratorians , Spiritual Guide, 1595
28
Lanfranc , Prior of
Le Bec , Archbishop of Canterbury, Scholar, 1089
30
Josephine Butler , Social Reformer, 1906
30
Joan of Arc , Visionary, 1431
30
Apolo Kivebulaya ,
Priest , Evangelist in
Central Africa , 1933
31
The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth
Alternative dates:
Matthias may be celebrated on 24 February instead of 14 May.
The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth may be celebrated on 2 July instead of 31 May.
June
1
Justin ,
Martyr at
Rome , c.165
3
The Martyrs of Uganda , 1885–7 and 1977
4
Petroc ,
Abbot of
Padstow , 6th century
5
Boniface (Wynfrith) of
Crediton ,
Bishop , Apostle of
Germany , Martyr, 754
6
Ini Kopuria , Founder of the
Melanesian Brotherhood , 1945
8
Thomas Ken ,
Bishop of Bath and Wells ,
Nonjuror ,
Hymn Writer, 1711
9
Columba ,
Abbot of Iona ,
Missionary , 597
9
Ephrem of Syria ,
Deacon , Hymn Writer, Teacher of the Faith, 373
11
Barnabas the Apostle
14
Richard Baxter ,
Puritan Divine, 1691
15
Evelyn Underhill , Spiritual Writer, 1941
16
Richard ,
Bishop of Chichester , 1253
16
Joseph Butler ,
Bishop of Durham , Philosopher, 1752
17
Samuel and
Henrietta Barnett , Social Reformers, 1913 and 1936
18
Bernard Mizeki , Apostle of the
MaShona , Martyr, 1896
19
Sundar Singh of
India ,
Sadhu (holy man), Evangelist, Teacher of the Faith, 1929
22
Alban ,
first Martyr of
Britain , c.250
23
Etheldreda ,
Abbess of
Ely , c.678
24
The Birth of John the Baptist
27
Cyril ,
Bishop of Alexandria , Teacher of the Faith, 444
28
Irenæus ,
Bishop of Lyon , Teacher of the Faith, c.200
29
Peter and
Paul ,
Apostles
Alternative dates:
Peter the Apostle may be celebrated alone, without Paul, on 29 June.
July
1
Henry ,
John , and
Henry Venn the younger ,
Priests , Evangelical Divines, 1797, 1813 and 1873
3
Thomas the Apostle
6
Thomas More , Scholar, and
John Fisher ,
Bishop of Rochester ,
Reformation
Martyrs , 1535
11
Benedict of Nursia ,
Abbot of
Monte Cassino , Father of Western
Monasticism , c.550
14
John Keble , Priest,
Tractarian , Poet, 1866
15
Swithun ,
Bishop of Winchester , c.862
15
Bonaventure , Friar,
Bishop , Teacher of the Faith, 1274
16
Osmund ,
Bishop of Salisbury , 1099
18
Elizabeth Ferard , first
Deaconess of the
Church of England , Founder of the
Community of St Andrew , 1883
19
Gregory , Bishop of
Nyssa , and his sister
Macrina , Deaconess, Teachers of the Faith, c.394 and c.379
20
Margaret of Antioch , Martyr, 4th century
20
Bartolomé de las Casas , Apostle to the
Indies , 1566
22
Mary Magdalene
23
Bridget of Sweden ,
Abbess of
Vadstena , 1373
25
James the Apostle
26
Anne and
Joachim , Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
27
Brooke Foss Westcott ,
Bishop of Durham , Teacher of the Faith, 1901
29
Mary ,
Martha and
Lazarus , Companions of Our Lord
30
William Wilberforce , Social Reformer,
Olaudah Equiano and
Thomas Clarkson , Anti-Slavery Campaigners, 1833, 1797 and 1846
31
Ignatius of Loyola , Founder of the
Society of Jesus , 1556
Alternative dates:
The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth may be celebrated on 2 July instead of 31 May.
Thomas the Apostle may be celebrated on 21 December instead of 3 July.
Thomas Becket may be celebrated on 7 July instead of 29 December.
August
4
Jean-Baptiste Vianney , Curé d'
Ars , Spiritual Guide, 1859
5
Oswald , King of
Northumbria ,
Martyr , 642
6
The Transfiguration of Our Lord
7
John Mason Neale ,
Priest ,
Hymn Writer, 1866
8
Dominic ,
Priest , Founder of the
Order of Preachers , 1221
9
Mary Sumner , Founder of the
Mothers' Union , 1921
10
Laurence ,
Deacon at
Rome , Martyr, 258
11
Clare of Assisi , Founder of the
Minoresses (Poor Clares), 1253
11
John Henry Newman , Priest,
Tractarian , 1890
13
Jeremy Taylor ,
Bishop of Down and Connor , Teacher of the Faith, 1667
13
Florence Nightingale ,
Nurse , Social Reformer, 1910
13
Octavia Hill , Social Reformer, 1912
14
Maximilian Kolbe ,
Friar , Martyr, 1941
15
The Blessed Virgin Mary
20
Bernard ,
Abbot of
Clairvaux , Teacher of the Faith, 1153
20
William and
Catherine Booth , Founders of the
Salvation Army , 1912 and 1890
24
Bartholomew the Apostle
27
Monica , mother of
Augustine of Hippo , 387
28
Augustine , Bishop of
Hippo , Teacher of the Faith, 430
29 The Beheading of
John the Baptist
30
John Bunyan , Spiritual Writer, 1688
31
Aidan ,
Bishop of Lindisfarne ,
Missionary , 651
Alternative dates:
The Blessed Virgin Mary may be celebrated on 8 September or 8 December instead of 15 August.
September
1
Giles of Provence ,
Hermit , c.710
2
The Martyrs of Papua New Guinea , 1901 and 1942
3
Gregory the Great ,
Bishop of Rome , Teacher of the Faith, 604
4
Birinus ,
Bishop of Dorchester (Oxon) , Apostle of
Wessex , 650
6
Allen Gardiner ,
Missionary , Founder of the
South American Mission Society , 1851
8
The Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9
Charles Fuge Lowder ,
Priest , 1880
13
John Chrysostom ,
Bishop of Constantinople , Teacher of the Faith, 407
14
Holy Cross Day
15
Cyprian ,
Bishop of Carthage ,
Martyr , 258
16
Ninian ,
Bishop of Galloway , Apostle of the
Picts , c.432
16
Edward Bouverie Pusey , Priest,
Tractarian , 1882
17
Hildegard ,
Abbess of
Bingen , Visionary, 1179
19
Theodore of Tarsus ,
Archbishop of Canterbury , 690
20
John Coleridge Patteson , First
Bishop of Melanesia , and his Companions, Martyrs, 1871
21
Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
25
Lancelot Andrewes ,
Bishop of Winchester , Spiritual Writer, 1626
25
Sergei of Radonezh ,
Russian
Monastic Reformer, Teacher of the Faith, 1392
26
Wilson Carlile , Founder of the
Church Army , 1942
27
Vincent de Paul , Founder of the
Congregation of the Mission (Lazarists), 1660
29
Michael and All Angels
30
Jerome , Translator of the Scriptures, Teacher of the Faith, 420
Alternative dates:
Cuthbert may be celebrated on 4 September instead of 20 March.
October
1
Remigius ,
Bishop of Rheims , Apostle of the
Franks , 533
1
Anthony Ashley Cooper ,
Earl of Shaftesbury , Social Reformer, 1885
3
George Bell , Bishop of Chichester, Ecumenist, Peacemaker, 1958
4
Francis of Assisi ,
Friar ,
Deacon , Founder of the
Friars Minor , 1226
6
William Tyndale , Translator of the Scriptures,
Reformation
Martyr , 1536
9
Denys ,
Bishop of Paris , and his Companions, Martyrs, c.250
9
Robert Grosseteste ,
Bishop of Lincoln ,
Philosopher , Scientist, 1253
10
Paulinus ,
Bishop of York ,
Missionary , 644
10
Thomas Traherne ,
Poet , Spiritual Writer, 1674
11
Ethelburga ,
Abbess of
Barking , 675
11
James the Deacon , companion of
Paulinus , 7th century
12
Wilfrid of Ripon ,
Bishop ,
Missionary , 709
12
Elizabeth Fry , Prison Reformer, 1845
12
Edith Cavell ,
Nurse , 1915
13
Edward the Confessor ,
King of England , 1066
15
Teresa of Avila , Teacher of the Faith, 1582
16
Nicholas Ridley ,
Bishop of London , and
Hugh Latimer ,
Bishop of Worcester , Reformation Martyrs, 1555
17
Ignatius ,
Bishop of Antioch , Martyr, c.107
18
Luke the Evangelist
19
Henry Martyn , Translator of the Scriptures, Missionary in
India and
Persia , 1812
25
Crispin and Crispinian , Martyrs at
Rome , c.287
26
Alfred the Great , King of the
West Saxons , Scholar, 899
26
Cedd , Abbot of
Lastingham , Bishop of the
East Saxons , 664
28
Simon and
Jude , Apostles
29
James Hannington ,
Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa , Martyr in
Uganda , 1885
31
Martin Luther , Reformer, 1546
Alternative dates:
Chad may be celebrated with Cedd on 26 October instead of 2 March.
November
1
ALL SAINTS' DAY
2
Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls' Day)
3
Richard Hooker ,
Priest , Anglican Apologist, Teacher of the Faith, 1600
3
Martin of Porres ,
Friar , 1639
6
Leonard ,
Hermit , 6th century
6
William Temple ,
Archbishop of Canterbury , Teacher of the Faith, 1944
7
Willibrord of York ,
Bishop , Apostle of
Frisia , 739
8 The Saints and
Martyrs of
England
9
Margery Kempe ,
Mystic , c.1440
10
Leo the Great ,
Bishop of Rome , Teacher of the Faith, 461
11
Martin ,
Bishop of Tours , c.397
13
Charles Simeon , Priest, Evangelical Divine, 1836
14
Samuel Seabury , first Anglican Bishop in
North America , 1796
16
Margaret , Queen of
Scotland , Philanthropist, Reformer of the Church, 1093
16
Edmund Rich of
Abingdon ,
Archbishop of Canterbury , 1240
17
Hugh ,
Bishop of Lincoln , 1200
18
Elizabeth of Hungary , Princess of
Thuringia , Philanthropist, 1231
19
Hilda ,
Abbess of
Whitby , 680
19
Mechthild ,
Béguine of
Magdeburg , Mystic, 1280
20
Edmund , King of the
East Angles , Martyr, 870
20
Priscilla Lydia Sellon , a Restorer of the Religious Life in the Church of England, 1876
22
Cecilia , Martyr at
Rome , c.230
23
Clement , Bishop of Rome, Martyr, c.100
25
Catherine of Alexandria , Martyr, 4th century
25
Isaac Watts ,
Hymn Writer, 1748
29
DAY OF INTERCESSION AND THANKSGIVING FOR THE MISSIONARY WORK OF THE CHURCH
30
Andrew the Apostle
December
1
Charles de Foucauld ,
Hermit in the
Sahara , 1916
3
Francis Xavier ,
Jesuit
Missionary , Apostle of the
Indies , 1552
4
John of Damascus ,
Monk , Teacher of the Faith, c.749
4
Nicholas Ferrar ,
Deacon , Founder of the
Little Gidding community , 1637
6
Nicholas , Bishop of
Myra , c.326
7
Ambrose ,
Bishop of Milan , Teacher of the Faith, 397
8
The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
13
Lucy ,
Martyr at
Syracuse , 304
13
Samuel Johnson , Moralist, 1784
14
John of the Cross ,
Poet , Teacher of the Faith, 1591
17
O SAPIENTIA
17
Eglantine Jebb , Social Reformer, Founder of '
Save The Children ', 1928
24
Christmas Eve
25
CHRISTMAS DAY
26
Stephen , Deacon,
First Martyr
27
John ,
Apostle and
Evangelist
28
The Holy Innocents
29
Thomas Becket ,
Archbishop of Canterbury , Martyr, 1170
31
John Wyclif , Reformer, 1384
Alternative dates:
Thomas the Apostle may be celebrated on 21 December instead of 3 July.
Thomas Becket may be celebrated on 7 July instead of 29 December.
See also
References
External links
"Holy Days" . Liturgical Calendar . Church of England. Archived from
the original on 9 April 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2006 .