With fun family activities, traditional services and a free Easter trail to follow, Gloucester Cathedral is inviting everyone to celebrate the spring holiday in 2024.
Families have plenty of free activities to enjoy, with the new Little Lamb Adventure Trail inviting little ones to explore the cathedral to help Larry the Lamb find his friends, learning all about the Easter story and the beautiful building along the way. The free trail opens on Saturday 23 March and runs every day until Sunday 7 April 2024, excluding Good Friday, with free trail sheets available from the Welcome Desk.
There's also free drop-in activity sessions for families, giving children a chance to decorate an Easter egg medieval-style; create their own Victorian Easter card; and take part in a Tudor feast — with activities taking place on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 March; then Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 April 2024, with no need to book.
For those looking to worship, Holy Week beings with the Palm Sunday Eucharist at 10.15am on Sunday 24 March; while the cathedral commemorates the Last Supper on Thursday 28 March — known in the Christian calendar as Maundy Thursday — with the Chrism Eucharist service at 11am and another Eucharist service that evening at 7.30pm.
Good Friday sees The Preaching of the Cross, The Liturgy of Good Friday and Stations of the Cross with organ meditations all taking place on Friday 29 March; followed by a candlelit service for The Liturgy of Easter Eve at 7.55pm on Saturday 30 March; culminating in an Easter Sunday Eucharist at 10.15am, where the church community comes together to celebrate the resurrection.
There are also Highlights and Crypt Tours taking place every day of the Easter holidays except Good Friday, with various time slots throughout the day; Library Tours taking place on Saturday 6 April 2024, giving visitors a rare opportunity to explore the cathedral's awe-inspiring library and see items in the collection that tell the Easter story; and Tower Tours on selected dates throughout March and April, providing breath taking views of the city.
All of the Easter services, as well as the Little Lamb Adventure Trail and family drop-in activity sessions are free, though donations to the cathedral are gratefully received.
Crypt Tours cost £4 per adult and £1.50 per child; Highlights Tours cost £6 per adult and £2 per child; while Library and Tower Tours both cost £10 per adult and £5 per child — but please note, there is no level access to the Crypt, Library or Tower, so these tours may not be suitable for those with mobility difficulties.
For more information, or to book a tour, visit gloucestercathedral.org.uk.
