Little Saint Mary’s Church, Cambridge

LSM — open again for worship

September 2020

Little St Mary's is open again for public worship on Sundays — we look forward to welcoming you back, but please see the important information below about booking to attend our services. Please also note that it is now a legal requirement to wear a face covering in churches (as in all public buildings) unless you cannot do this for medical reasons.

For the avoidance of doubt: LSM and other places of worship are exempt from the recently-announced "Rule of Six" as these are not classified as Social Gatherings. We are Covid-secure and subject to risk assessments which are kept under constant review. Contact details of all those attending services are recorded and retained for 21 days so that attendees can be informed in the unlikely event of any oubreak.

Until further notice there will be public Low Masses every Sunday at 8am, 9am and 12 noon.
There is also a live streaming of Mass at 10.30am which is not open to the public.
If you are unable to come to church in person we are live streaming services every day except Friday (see below).

Keeping you safe

We have carried out a risk assessment following the Church of England guidelines which you can read in full here. This will be reviewed regularly as conditions change, so please check back to see the latest version.

See also our Covid-safe Guidance for Sunday Services.

  • For your safety the church will be thoroughly cleaned between public services;
  • Hand sanitiser is provided at the entrance for your use on entering and leaving;
  • Please maintain a social distance (2m or 6 feet) from anyone who is not a member of your own household, at all times while you are in church or waiting to enter.  The sidesfolk will show you where you can sit;
  • Please take your service sheet home with you when you leave;
  • Toilets and handwashing facilities are available in the Parish Centre, but please do not queue for them in the lobby. If you need drinking water please do not enter the kitchen, but ask a sidesperson, who will provide you with water in a disposable glass.

Booking to attend services

During the ongoing restoration and to maintain social distancing we can admit no more than 25 people to each of the three public Sunday Masses. To manage this safely, you will need to book your attendance by the previous Thursday.

Here is the link to book tickets for Sunday 27th September.
Online bookings should be made by 8pm on Thursday 24th September.
If you are unable to book online or have difficulty with the process, please telephone 01223 366202 between 9am–1pm Tuesday–Thursday.
For any questions or special requirements (e.g. if you would like a gluten-free wafer) please contact the Parish Office.
Please note, you do not need to print out your tickets, as we will hold a list of the booked attendees at the church entrance for each Mass.

Face coverings

It is now mandatory for all those attending places of worship to wear a face covering (except for children under 11, those unable to wear a covering because of illness or disability, and those leading worship or prayer, reading or preaching). See:

Private prayer

The church building is currently undergoing major renovations, so will be open only for these three Masses on Sundays and not at other times. A number of other churches in the city have reopened at certain times and will welcome you to pop in for individual prayer:

  • Great Saint Mary's is open 11am to 5pm every day except Monday
    (entrance by the south door in St Mary's Passage);
  • Saint Bene't's is open 12 noon to 4pm every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday;
  • Saint Botolph's is open 12 noon to 2pm every Tuesday, Friday & Saturday;
  • Saint Clement's (Bridge Street) is open 12 noon to 3pm from Monday to Friday;
  • Saint Giles (Chesterton Lane / Castle Street) is open 12 noon to 1pm from Monday to Saturday.

The churchyard garden is also open again for you to enjoy for quiet reflection, though access may have to be restricted at times during the ongoing works.

Morning & Evening Prayer and Mass continue to be offered daily for and on behalf of the parish,
and some of these services are streamed live (you can also view them later) via our Facebook page:

  • Evening Prayer is usually streamed daily (except Fridays) at 6pm (not 14th-17th September);
  • Holy Mass (with a homily, cantor and organ music) is streamed every Sunday at 10.30am and Low Mass every Wednesday at 10am (not 16th September; 23rd September to be confirmed).

You don't need a Facebook account to follow the streaming, but if you are registered for Facebook you will be able to give us feedback on our streamed events.

You can also offer Morning and Evening Prayer daily in your home using the readings given below:

Services in September

The Requiem Mass for Fr Anthony Wibberley can be watched via Facebook (see the link at the foot of this page). A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held in due course.

 
 
 

Monday 21st September: Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist

6pm Evening Prayer (streamed)

Sunday 27th September: Trinity XVI

8am & 9am Low Masses
10.30 Mass with Hymns (streamed)

12 noon Low Mass; 6pm Evening Prayer (streamed)

Tuesday 29th September: Feast of Saint Michael & All Angels

6pm Evening Prayer (streamed)

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