Holy Week and Easter
at Exeter Cathedral
Join us for a full calendar of special services and family activities to take you through Holy Week and Easter.
Services
Holy Week
Sunday 29 March: Palm Sunday
9:45am Choral Eucharist beginning with the Liturgy of Palms and procession. Service to include the reading of the Matthew Passion.
4pm St John Passion with Exeter Cathedral Choir
Join Exeter Cathedral Choir and Devon Baroque for a spectacular performance of St John Passion – JS Bach’s monumental retelling of the story of the Crucifixion of Jesus.
Find out more and book your tickets >
Monday 30, Tuesday 31 March & Wednesday 1 April
6:15pm Soup Suppers – All are warmly invited to join us for a soup supper after evening worship. Tickets from £5. Please book to attend.
BOOK YOUR TICKETS >
7pm Service with Address by The Very Rev’d Jonathan Greener, Dean of Exeter, and Compline
Thursday 2 April – Maundy Thursday
10:30am Diocesan Chrism Service
7:30pm The Liturgy of Maundy Thursday
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
10am CTAX Good Friday Service
1:30pm The Liturgy of Good Friday
7:30pm John Stainer’s ‘The Crucifixion’ with University of Exeter Chapel Choir
Find out more >
Easter
Sunday 5 April – Easter Day
6am Easter Vigil
8am Holy Communion
10am Choral Eucharist
11:45am Choral Matins
4pm Choral Evensong
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
11:30am Solemn Eucharist
3pm Choral Evensong
Exeter Cathedral Choir will be joined by the Exeter Cathedral Old Choristers Association
Family Activities
All around the Cathedral you will find beautiful carvings, textile hangings, and paintings inspired by the rich flora and fauna of the season. Now we’re inviting you to take part! Come along and enjoy hands‑on craft activities that capture the joy of new growth and the beauty of nature in bloom.
Over the Easter Half-Term, on certain dates from 4-19 April we will be offering:
Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday 4 – Sunday 19 April (during Cathedral opening hours)
Children: Free | Adults: Standard admission
Grab your Easter Egg Hunt sheet from the Welcome Desk, keep your eyes peeled as you explore and count how many you can find. Once you think you’ve found them all, pop down to our shop to claim your prize.
Leaf and Flower Pounding Prints
Tuesday 7 April, Drop-in from 10:30am-1:10pm
Known as hapa zome, where you transfer natural plant pigments onto fabric by hammering fresh botanicals, creating delicate, eco-friendly prints
Make Seed Bombs
Wednesday 8 April, Drop-in from 10:30am-1:10pm
Create little soil bombs packed with seasonal seeds to take home and plant or re-wild open spaces
Willow Weave Fishes
Thursday 9 and Monday 13 April, Drop in from 10:30am-1:10pm
Join us for a delightful willow weaving workshop where you can make your very own wiggly willow fish to take home. Using simple weaving techniques and bendy willow branches, you’ll craft a beautiful piece of nature art that’s easy to make and fun to decorate. Dive into this hands on activity, explore natural materials, and let your imagination swim wild!
Mini-Lantern Making
Wednesday 15 April, Drop in from 10:30am-1:10pm
Using found nature materials we will craft a sturdy lantern making a lolly stick and lantern tissue frame for you to decorate and take home to light up.
Entry into the Cathedral for children is free with an accompanying paying adult. All craft workshops are £2.50.
Sightseeing opening times across the Easter weekend may vary due to special services taking place. Please check our opening times on the Cathedral website home page before your visit.
