Hi,
We attended service at Westminster Abbey in 2011. It was the regular Sunday liturgy and we were restricted in where we could go before and after service. So cool to see the space used for its intended purpose.
I see there is still a Sunday service and we plan to go on December 1st. Has anyone attended more recently than 13 years ago? Starts at 11:15 a.m. Any tips?
Thanks!
No tips really that would be much different from your last visit. Have been frequently and am going again on Sunday, and I normally aim to get there about 30-45 mins prior. But I'm not too fussed where I sir and whether I have a view.
My only other comment is that there's a Advent liturgy servuce at 4pm that will be magnificent if that appeals.
Thank you for your post. We arrive at 8 a.m. from Chicago. So if we get there 45 min early, where are we sitting, in back? I recall being in the quire...it was not very crowded, but maybe now it is?
The 11.15 Sung Eucharist is a popular service - if you don't arrive fairly early you'll likely be seated in one of the transepts*, as the nave will be full (and the quire definitely full). The 4pm Advent service more so.
*churches are designed to look like a cross when viewed from above, so the transepts are the side bits running north-south, and the nave is the main bit running east-west.
Thank you again for responding! How early to get a good seat? 60 minutes? Where do we line (que) up?
As a long time contributor I am sure you know (but for the folks new to travel) that the purpose of a visit to the Abbey on a Sunday is for worship by the faithful, not for sightseeing, as you mention in your question. That has not changed.
All seats are good seats, they all allow participation in the service.
I worry that the emphasis on a "good" seat will make you rush, and after flying all night you may well be pushed to arrive at the 11:15 on time let alone early.
8:00 touchdown, maybe 9:00 out of the airport if no queues at immigration or luggage reclaim, 10:00 arrival at Westminster tube and then a few minutes walk. If your plane is on time.
Where will you put your luggage?
I hope you have a special experience.
The order of service for that service is at https://www.westminster-abbey.org/order-of-service?id=14391
You'll see reference to the Trussell Trust as the charity receiving part of the Collection. They are a very special charity who help many many people in need of food. There is a tremendous need in this country, and the Trussell Trust are top notch.
You will be arriving on the First Sunday of Advent.
I would very much hope they wouldn't allow you to wander around before and after the service.
However I went to weekday Evensong at St Paul's during the summer. I was running well late due to roadworks on Fleet Street, and arrived at 4.38 pm outside (4.43 under the great dome)- so well after the sightseers were meant to have left. Instead it was still thronged with dilly dallying sightseers, and in fact as I passed the stewards 2/3 of the way down the nave I was actually asked if I was attending the service.
When that should have been the only reason anyone was there at that time.
Now St Paul's is familiar to me (for weekday and Sunday services), so I know exactly where to sit for quire entrance, and they opened the quire at 4.50pm, about 5 minutes later than normal.
What I only learnt the Sunday before last (so nearly 3 months later) in a sermon from the Preacher that evening was that people were still wandering round the Cathedral sightseeing during the service. Like him I am a bit shocked to hear of that.
As St Paul's was re-opening for evening sightseeing afterwards we had 10 minutes after the service to leave.
Then the same thing happened again later- those 2 dozen or so of us there specifically for Compline were kept hanging around outside until 8 minutes before the service was meant to start while they got the sightseers either out or seated- by which time they were running out of service sheets. At least at that service barriers had been put across the nave to physically stop wandering then afterwards everyone had to exit via the North Transept door. The service actually ended up starting late due to getting people seated and finding more orders of service.
The two services were sublime and so worth the 600 mile round trip, but I was unimpressed with the organisation of sightseeing versus the primary purpose of the building- worship.
I was never a frequent Sunday attender at Westminster Abbey, but my memory is that they open the quire about 20 or so minutes before service start time.
Our B&B guests are in awe when they attend choral services here. Once in a lifetime type experience. TIP: arrive well before 11:15 on Sunday. To the left of the West Door (take in the statues) a sidesman will be standing in robes. You need to say ‘we’d like to attend the Sung Eucharist at 11:15’. Be prepared to stay till 12:30. Inspiring.
Shorter choral service at 3pm on Sunday.
During school term time, daily in late afternoon.
https://www.westminster-abbey.org/worship-music/services-times/choral-services/
West Door statues:
Those commemorated are Maximilian Kolbe, Manche Masemola, Janani Luwum, Grand Duchess Elizabeth of Russia, Martin Luther King, Óscar Romero, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Esther John, Lucian Tapiedi, and Wang Zhiming.
