Little Saint Mary’s Church, Cambridge

LSM — open for worship

Autumn 2020

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

For the time being LSM will not be open for private prayer outside service times., but there are some nearby churches which will welcome you to pop in and they are also listed on this page.

Live Services

During October we will have three 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 via Facebook (see below).

From November we move to a revised pattern with two choral Masses each Sunday (at 9.30am and 11.30am).  The later service will also be streamed live. 

Weekday services

We have now returned to the regular pattern of weekday Offices and Masses.
Masses are at the following times:

  • Monday & Friday 12.30pm
  • Tuesday & Thursday 7.45am
  • Wednesday & Saturday 10am

Morning Prayer is offered from Monday to Friday at 8.20am
Evening Prayer is said daily at 6pm. It is streamed except on Friday.

All services take place in the body of the church to allow social distancing. Advance booking is not necessary on weekdays (though under current guidance and regulations face coverings must still be worn where possible). Worshippers should leave contact details or log in using the NHS Covid-19 App.

 

Keeping you safe

We have carried out risk assessments following the Church of England guidelines which you can read in full here. These 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, and in the chancel for use at communion;
  • 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 advise you where you may 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 have to limit the congregation at the public Sunday Masses. To manage this safely, you will need to book your attendance by the previous Thursday. The link to make your booking will appear in this paragraph at the beginning of each week, and will be available until 8pm on Thursday. We recommend booking early in the week to secure a place at your preferred service time.

Book tickets for Sunday 25th October now!

Online bookings should be made by 8pm on Thursday 22nd October.
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

While building works contine, LSM can be opened only services at the time listed above.  However,  a number of other churches in the city have reopened at certain times and will welcome you in for individual prayer:

  • Great Saint Mary's 11am to 5pm daily except Monday
  • Saint Bene't's 12 noon to 4pm Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday;
  • Saint Botolph's 12 noon to 2pm Tuesday, Friday & Saturday;
  • Saint Clement's (Bridge Street)12 noon to 3pm Monday to Friday;
  • Saint Giles (Chesterton Lane / Castle Street) 12 noon to 1pm daily except Sunday.

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

Streamed Services

  • Evening Prayer is usually streamed daily (except Fridays) at 6pm;
  • Holy Mass (with a homily, cantor and organ music) is streamed every Sunday at 10.30am.

There is a link to our Facebook page at the foot of every page on this website. 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 any feedback on our streamed events.

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

Principal Services in October

Restored pattern of weekday services from 12th October (see above)
Morning Prayer will be said daily at 8.20am Monday to Friday;
Evening Prayer will be said daily at 6pm;
Mass will be celebrated daily at the times listed above.

 

Sunday 25th October: Trinity XX

Clocks should be put back one hour this morning!

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

God moves in a mysterious way (NEH 365) verses 1–3 & 6
Deck thyself, my soul (NEH 280), verses1 & 4

12 noon Low Mass; 6pm Evening Prayer

Wednesday 28th October: Feast of Saints Simon & Jude, Apostles

10am Low Mass; 6pm Evening Prayer