| Where: | London at Westminster Abbey |
| When: | Saturday near October 13th |
| Time: | 11.30 Festal Eucharist, Evensong 3pm, other activities at intervals (see website link) |
Edwardtide is the annual remembrance of St Edward the Confessor, King of England. Ittakes place around October 13th, the date of the translation of his body to its current resting place, in a National Pilgrimage. Pilgrims may visit Edward’s shrine, one of only two in England which still contains the remains of its saintly incumbent, for prayers and praise. The raised shrine area is usually off -limits for visitors and this is a rare opportunity to actually kneel in the niches around the tomb as our predecessors did, to gain proximity to the holy bones; it also allows you to view the effigies on the tombs of his surrounding Plantagenet relatives, which aren’t easily visible from below. Edward founded the Abbey and it was consecrated in 1065, the year before his death and his burial there; when the present structure was built by his successor in the thirteenth century, Henry III had a new tomb constructed for his canonised distant relative and Edward has resided there ever since. Free tours of the Abbey take place throughout the day and there are children’s activities and performances and services (with choristers, organ and incense, and gorgeously apparelled celebrants processing through the church).
Helpful Hints
In 2024 Edwardtide was celebrated with the National Pilgrimage on Saturday October 19th- 2025 date is yet to be announced. Other events take place around the National Pilgrimage, which is usually but not invariably held on the Saturday nearest the 13th – see Abbey link below for full details.
Individual visitors can attend free of charge and no tickets are usually required but groups should make arrangements with the Abbey in advance. Photography isn’t allowed inside the Abbey, but is permitted in the Cloisters. As the Abbey is only open for the Pilgrimage rather than for tourism, it’s a good opportunity to visit without crowds.
Click here for the Edwardtide page : https://www.westminster-abbey.org/worship-music/services-times/edwardtide/
and here for the Abbey: https://www.westminster-abbey.org
Photo by Wally Gobetz (exterior).
A beautiful experience at Edward tide 2019. I had visited many times in the past but had not had the opportunity to attend a service. So happy that I made the effort to attend. We were made so welcome, by clergy and parishioners. Will remember it always. Thank you.