Feast Days and Special Services
The Usage of St Michael’s is a generic calendar of Feast Days, observed here; traditional forms of worship based on the Sarum Missal are used within the cycle of the Church’s seasons.
The Usage follows ancient forms of services from the 11th Century until the English Reformation and can be downloaded as a PDF here. This online resource was commissioned by the Heritage and Music Development Group at St. Michael’s for the Organ Restoration Project in 2013-14 and generously supported by the Heritage Fund.
Throughout the year, other Saints and Martyrs Days may be marked, e.g. S Theresa of Avila, or Sankta Lucia, either within a Mass, at Vespers or even a recital. Each year, the calendar of Feast Days and Special Services is updated and is listed further down this page.
The Usage of St Michael’s was compiled in 2011 by the late Canon John Thurmer, Canon Thurmer was Canon Emeritus of Exeter Cathedral, Chaplain of the University of Exeter and an Honorary Assistant Priest of the former Parish of St David’s with St Michael & All Angels Exeter. He was a beloved Priest in Charge of St Michael’s Mount Dinham, an author and organic gardener.
Please note, Feast Day services held at St Michael’s may be subject to change. Please check back on the home page for confirmed Feast Days and special services, held from month to month.
The Consuetudinary is currently being compiled as a further PDF resource for download, to accompany the Usage for Feast Days at St Michael’s Mount Dinham.
Special Services
BAPTISM

Holy Mass and Baptism at St Michael’s …
Order of Service for Baptism within the MassMARRIAGE

Couples at St Michael’s often choose a full Nuptial Mass for their Wedding service. Others choose a simpler marriage service or blessing.
See our Wedding pages for information about music, and other resources.
FUNERAL

A Funeral at St Michael’s can vary from a Prayer Book or Common Worship Service to a full Requiem Mass with Incense and Asperges. The Choir of St Michael’s can provide singers as required.
Feast Days for 2025
January
Monday 6th, 2025 11:00am
EPIPHANY
Transferred to Sunday 5th January for 2025.
The Magi arrive at the Crib and celebrate the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ.
11:00 Sung Mass
18:00 Choral Evensong and Benediction
Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord
February
Sunday 2nd, 2025 11:00am
CANDLEMAS
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, celebrated 40 days after Christmas
11:00 Sung Mass with Candle Blessing and Procession.
18:00 Choral Evensong and Benediction
Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord
March
Wednesday 5th, 2025 7:30pm
ASH WEDNESDAY
Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent and takes places 46 days before Easter. This follows the PASCHAL full moon each year.
Sung Mass with Imposition of Ashes
Liturgical colour: PURPLE
March
Tuesday 25th, 2025 7:30pm
THE ANNUNCIATION of OUR LADY (Lady Day)
We celebrate the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the Mother of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah and Son of God, marking his incarnation.
Sung Mass
Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord
March
Sunday 30th, 2025 11:00am
MOTHERING SUNDAY (Laetare Sunday)
Mothers are presented with posies of spring flowers, distributed during the service, followed by Simnel cake and refreshment.
Sung Mass.
Liturgical colour: ROSE RED
April
Sunday 6th, 2025 11:00am
PASSION SUNDAY
5th Sunday in Lent Marked with the Veiling of Crosses and Statues
Sung Mass
Liturgical colour: PURPLE
HOLY WEEK 13th-20th April 2025
In the Anglo-Catholic tradition, Holy Week is perhaps the most important Liturgical time of the year. At St Michael’s the pattern of the week marks the journey of Jesus entering into Jerusalem through to his suffering and passion on the Cross. The following days and services are observed:
Palm Sunday: Sung Mass
Tuesday: Vespers & Meditation, Passiontide Office
Spy Wednesday: Stations of the Cross and the Stabat Mater is Sung
Maundy Thursday: Vespers & Meditation, Maundy Thursday Office
Sung Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Good Friday: Sung Mass of the Pre-Sanctified and Adoration
Good Friday: Tenebrae, the Lamentations of Jeremiah are sung from the Gallery by candlelight
Holy Saturday: Sung Mass & Great Vigil, with the Lighting of the Pascal Candle and Blessing of the New Fire
Easter Sunday: Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: PURPLE
April
Sunday 13th, 2025 11:00am
PALM SUNDAY
Sung Mass with the Blessing & Procession of Palms and Sung Gospel of the Passion
Liturgical colour: PURPLE
April
Wednesday 16th, 2025 6:30pm
SPY WEDNESDAY
Spy Wednesday, Stations of the Cross with Stabat Mater Dolorosa
Liturgical colour: PURPLE
April
Thursday 17th, 2025 7:30pm
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Sung Mass of the Lord’s Supper, with Foot Washing
At the end of this service the High Altar is stripped – followed by the Watch through the Night
Liturgical colour: PURPLE
Plainsong Tenebrae is sung during the Watch through the Night
April
Friday 18th, 2025 11:00am
GOOD FRIDAY
Good Friday Liturgy with Veneration of the Cross
Sung Mass of the Pre-Sanctified and Adoration
Liturgical colour: BLACK
Good Friday Tenebrae, 8.00pm. The nave is lit with candles which are gradually extinguished during the service of sung Psalms and prayers, meditating on the Passion and Death of Our Lord.
The Psalms and Responds of the Lamentations of Jeremiah are sung to plainsong, elaborated with polyphony by Orlando di Lassus (1532-1594) and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)
April
Saturday 19th, 2025 7:30pm
HOLY SATURDAY
Easter Eve – Vigil and the First Mass of Easter with the Ceremony at the Font : the Blessing of the New Fire and Lighting of The Paschal Candle, Sung Exsultet, Renewal of Baptismal Vows, and First Mass of Easter. The service is followed by a party.
Sung Mass
Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord
April
Sunday 20th, 2025 11:00am
EASTER DAY
Festal Mass and Blessing of the Easter Garden
Sung Mass for Easter Day
Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord
May
Sunday 25th, 2025 11:00am
ROGATION SUNDAY
Rogation Procession, Sunday before Ascension
Sung Mass with procession around Mount Dinham, praying for God to bless our work and the fruits of the Earth in their seasons
Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord
May
Thursday 29th, 2025 8:00am
ASCENSION
Ascension Day is 40 days after Easter
Plainsong Matins is sung from the Gallery, followed by breakfast
Sung Mass
Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of our Lord
June
Sunday 8th, 2025 11:00am
PENTECOST (Whitsunday)
Commemorating the gift of the Holy Spirit. 50 days after Easter
Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: RED
June
Sunday 15th, 2025 11:00am
TRINITY SUNDAY
A Feast dedicated to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, the essence of God expressing itself in three persons: God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the spirit of God. It is one of the few Christian feasts that celebrates a doctrine, not an event.
Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord
June
Thursday 19th, 2025 7:30pm
CORPUS CHRISTI
The Feast of Corpus Christi honours the institution of the Holy Eucharist. At St Michael’s, as part of the High Mass, a canopy or “chuppa” is used to process the Blessed Sacrament from the church around Mount Dinham, lead by the Crucifer, flower children scattering petals, servers and followed by the choir and congregation. Once inside the church again and at the High Altar, Benediction takes place.
Sung Mass with Benediction.
The service is followed by a party and this year, 2024, a particularly significant historic moment was celebrated on Mount Dinham by residents and members of the congregation.
Held on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.
Liturgical Colour: WHITE ~ Feast of Our Lord
July
Sunday 13th, 2025 11:00am
SEA SUNDAY
The Second Sunday in July has been kept as Sea Sunday with Sermon and Prayers reflecting on the worldwide work of the Mission to Seafarers.
Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: GREEN
August
Friday 15th, 2025 7:30pm
ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Traditionally observed on the 15th August annually.
In 2024, a Sung Mass was celebrated at Tuckers Hall, formerly the Chapel of the Assumption of Our Lady, for the first time since the Reformation.
Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: WHITE ~ Feast of Our Lord
September
Monday 8th, 2025 7:30pm
FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
A celebration of the birth of Mary, mother of Jesus.
Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: WHITE – Feast of Our Lady
September
Monday 29th, 2025 7:30pm
MICHAELMASS
Feast of St Michael and All Angels with Procession, High Mass and Party for our Patronal Festival.
Liturgical Colour: GOLD
October
Sunday 5th, 2025 11:00am
DEDICATION SUNDAY (after Michaelmas)
Traditionally, this is held the Sunday after our Patronal Festival.
Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: RED
October
Sunday 19th, 2025 11:00am
HARVEST SUNDAY
Celebrated on the Sunday closest to the Harvest Moon and the Autumn Equinox. Harvest Thanksgiving with shared Harvest Loaf.
Traditionally, a Bountiful Table of baking, produce & preserves is set up.
Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: GREEN
November
Saturday 1st, 2025 7:30pm
ALL SAINTS' DAY
Also known as All Hallow’s Day, celebrated in honour of all the Saints of the Church.
Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: WHITE
November
Sunday 2nd, 2025 11:00am
ALL SOULS' DAY
A day of remembrance and prayer for the faithful departed. Commemoratio Omnium Fidelium Defunctorum.
Sung Requiem Mass
Liturgical Colour: BLACK
November
Sunday 9th, 2025 11:00am
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
A a memorial day to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty. Act of Remembrance is observed at 11am, or at the end of the service.
Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: BLACK
November
Sunday 23rd, 2025 11:00am
CHRIST THE KING
Also traditionally known as Stir-up Sunday, from the Prayer Book Collect and the making of Christmas puddings. The last Sunday before Advent is a celebration of Christ the King, Jesus as the just ruler over all the Universe.
Sung Mass
Liturgical Colour: RED
Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ADVENT 30th Nov - 24th Dec 2025
Advent is a season of the liturgical year observed in most Christian denominations as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming.
At St Michael’s the Advent wreath is decked with 5 candles, 4 around the edge and 1 in the centre. The first candle is lit on the first Sunday in Advent, then two are lit on the second Sunday and so on, until all four and the fifth are lit together on Christmas Day.
Liturgical colour: PURPLE
November
Sunday 30th, 2025 11:00am
ADVENT SUNDAY
The Litany published in 1544 is the earliest officially authorized vernacular service in English. The 1st candle of the Advent wreath is lit.
Advent Sunday is the Sunday nearest to 30 November and the start of the Christian Year.
Sung Mass with Litany by Cranmer (1544)
Liturgical colour: PURPLE
December
Sunday 7th, 2025 6:00pm
ADVENT PROCESSION
The Advent Procession uses Prayers, Readings, Hymns and Advent Carols illuminating the Great O Antiphons, which comprise the Advent Hymn “O come, O come Emmanuel” and concludes with the Magnificat (and in former years the service of Benediction).
This usually takes place on the 2nd Sunday of Advent to allow for Exeter Cathedral’s Advent Service on the 1st Sunday.
Liturgical colour: PURPLE
December
Sunday 14th, 2025 11:00am
GAUDETE SUNDAY
The 3rd Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, from the Introit words “Rejoice in the Lord alway”; the Rose Candle of the Advent wreath is lit.
Sung Mass
Liturgical colour: ROSE RED
December
Saturday 13th, 2025 6:00pm
SANKTA LUCIA
Sankta Lucia Services are held at a growing number of locations throughout the UK, though the origins of the festival lie in Scandinavia. St Lucy was a fourth century Christian martyr and her feast day is December 13th; she is associated with bringing light into the winter darkness.
https://www.facebook.com/ExeterLucia
This service follows the Swedish pattern of a candle-lit procession with special carols and readings, led by a girl representing the Saint wearing white robes with a crown of blazing candles.
Liturgical colour: WHITE
December
Wednesday 24th, 2025 11:00pm
CAROLS, with MIDNIGHT MASS at 11:30pm
Midnight Mass is the first liturgy of Christmastide that is celebrated on the night of Christmas Eve, traditionally beginning at midnight. At St. Michael’s the Sung Mass is preceded by Carols from the West Gallery at 11:00pm, followed by the Mass at 11:30pm.
Sung Mass and Blessing of the Crib.
Liturgical colour: WHITE/GOLD
December
Thursday 25th, 2025 10:30am
CHRISTMAS DAY
Christmas Day, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, followed by celebrations and refreshment at the West end of the church.
Sung Mass with Prayers at the Crib.
Liturgical colour: WHITE/GOLD