Services September - December 2025
We have reverted to our usual pattern of an 0915 said Holy Communion, followed by an 1100 service in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula with our choir.
The Chapel of St John the Evangelist in the White Tower is reached only up several flights of stairs.
Access to the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula is temporarily only by the stairs at the east end of the Chapel leading to the Vestry, while works continuie to install an accessibility lift at the main west door.
20 July - 07 September inclusive: no services
14 September - The 13th Sunday after Trinity
0915 Said Holy Communion (Chapel of St John the Evangelist, White Tower)
1100 Choral Matins
Responses: Ayleward
Psalm 14
Festival Te Deum (Holst)
Anthem: Jesu, the very thought of thee (Bairstow)
Readings 1 Timothy 1, vv12-17 and Luke 15, vv1-10.
Hymns tba
Voluntary: Scherzo (from Symphony No.2, Op. 20) – Vierne
21st September 2025 - The 14th Sunday after Trinity and Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
0915 Said Holy Communion
1100 Choral Matins
Responses: Byrd
Psalm 79, vv1-9
Jubilate: Child in B-flat
Anthem: Deus venerunt gentes (Byrd)
Readings 1 Timothy 2, vv1-7 and Luke 16, vv1-13
Hymns tba
Voluntary: Cantabile (from Symphony No.2, Op. 20) – Vierne
28th September 2025 – The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
0915 Said Holy Communion
1100 Sung Holy Communion
Missa Brevis (Ives)
Communion Motet: O sacrum convivium (Messiaen)
Readings Galatians 6, vv11-end and Matthew 6, vv24-end
Hymns tba
Voluntary: Final (from Symphony No.2, Op. 20) – Vierne
5th October 2025 – The 16th Sunday after Trinity
0915 Said Holy Communion (Chapel of St John the Evangelist)
1100 Choral Matins
Responses: Ebdon
Psalm 137, vv1-6
Jubilate: Britten in C
Anthem: Super flumina Babylonis (de Monte)
Readings 2 Timothy 1, vv1-14 and Luke 17, vv5-10.
Hymns tba
Voluntary: Prelude in E minor (BWV 548i) - JS Bach
12th October 2025 - Harvest Festival
0915 Said Holy Communion
1100 Choral Matins & Harvest Festival
Responses: Morley
Psalm 150
Te Deum: Stanford in B-flat
Anthem: Fear not, O Land (Elgar)
Readings Deuteronomy 26, vv1-11 John 54, vv31-38
Hymns tba
Voluntary: Postlude in D minor - Stanford
19th October 2025 – The 18th Sunday after Trinity
0915 Said Holy Communion
1100 Choral Matins
Responses: Tallis
Psalm 119, vv97-104
Jubilate: Prince Albert
Anthem: Hear my prayer (Mendelssohn)
Readings 2 Timothy 3, vv14 - 4, 5 and Luke 18, vv1-8
Hymns tba
Voluntary: Allegro Maestoso (Sonata V) - Mendelssohn
26th October 2025 – The 19th Sunday after Trinity
0915 Said Holy Communion
1100 Sung Holy Communion
Missa Brevis (Berkeley)
Communion Motet: Ave verum (Mawby)
Readings Ephesians 4, vv17–end and Matthew 9, vv1-8
Hymns tba
Voluntary: Fugue (Toccata, Chorale and Fugue) - Jackson
2nd November 2025 - All Souls' Day
0915 Said Holy Communion (Chapel of St John the Evangelist, White Tower)
1100 Sung Holy Communion
Requiem (Fauré)
Readings Revelation 7, vv2-4 & 9-12 and Matthew 5, vv1-12
Hymns tba
Voluntary: Psalm Prelude Set 1 No. 3 - Howells
9th November 2025 – Remembrance Sunday
0915 Said Holy Communion
1050 Service of Remembrance Please note earlier start time.
Separate service sheet
16th November 2025 – The 22nd Sunday after Trinity
0915 Said Holy Communion
1100 Choral Matins
Responses: Clucas
Psalm 98
Jubilate: Walton
Anthem: And I saw a new heaven (Bainton)
Readings 2 Thessalonians 3, vv16-end and Luke 21, vv5-19
Hymns tba
Voluntary: Romanza - Walton (arr. Gower)
23rd November 2025 - Christ the King
0915 Said Holy Communion
1100 Sung Holy Communion
Darke in E
Christus Vincit (MacMillan)
Readings Colossians 1, vv13-20 and John 6, vv5-14
Hymns tba
Voluntary: Acclamations (Suite Médiévale) - Langlais
30th November 2025 – Advent Sunday
0915 Said Holy Communion (Chapel of St John the Evangelist)
1100 Advent Carol service
Separate service sheet
7th December 2025 – 2nd Sunday in Advent
0915 Said Holy Communion (Chapel of St John the Evangelist, White Tower)
1100 Choral Matins
Responses: Smith
Psalm 72, vv1-7
Benedicite: Sumsion
Anthem: O thou, the central orb (Wood)
Readings Romans 15, vv4-13 and Matthew 3, vv1-12
Hymns tba
Voluntary: Carol (Four Extemporisations) - Whitlock
14th December 2025 – 3rd Sunday in Advent
0915 Said Holy Communion
1100 Choral Matins
Responses: Byrd
Psalm 146, vv4-10
Benedictus (Byrd, Short)
Anthem: Laetentur coeli (Byrd)
Readings James 5, vv7-10 and Matthew 11, vv2-1
Hymns tba
Voluntary: Rorate caeli - Demessieux
21st December 2025 – 4th Sunday in Advent
0915 Said Holy Communion (Chapel of St John the Evangelist, White Tower)
1100 State Carol Service
See service sheet on the day
24th December 2025 Christmas Eve
1600 Crib Service
1800 First Mass of Christmas
25th December 2025 - Christmas Day
1000 Matins with Christmas Carols, followed by Holy Communion
28th December 2025 no services.
All are welcome to attend our services but please note that for certain major services, in particular the Christmas Carol Service, admission is by ticket issued in advance and/or by named lists, so anyone arriving without a ticket or whose name is not on a list for one of these popular services is likely to be refused admission. The reason is that Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula seats only 180 - fewer than many parish churches - and there is simply not room for as many as would like to attend some popular services. The Chapel of St John the Evangelist can acommodate only about 40 people. Please check, at the latest by the preceding Friday, with the Chapel Admininistrator to avoid disappointment. Thank you for your understanding.
Please also note that street events such as the London Marathon or Bike Ride create difficulties for getting to the Tower, so you should allow extra time for your journey.