S. Mary’s stands firmly in the Catholic Tradition of the Anglican Church. Worship is central, and everyone is welcome to our services.
Mass
Sunday 11.00 am Solemn Mass – a sung Mass (traditional language 1984 Church in Wales Prayer Book) with incense, choir, occasional sung propers, motets/anthems.
Monday 6.00 pm Mass
Wednesday 10.00 am Mass
Evensong
Evensong daily at 6.00 pm (said in chancel) except for days when there is a Mass.
For the month’s services at S. Mary’s, and for those at S. Eigon’s, Llanigon; S. John’s Chapel, Hay; S. Michael and all Angels’, Clyro, ‘Little’ S. Mary’s, Capel-y-Ffin and Bettwys Chapel, please see the calendar below.
Calendar of Services for July 2025
1st July – S. Oliver Plunkett – Appointed Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland in 1669. He had spent years previous in Rome due to persecution in Ireland. However, he fell foul of the Popish Plot which was concocted by the insane cleric Titus Oates. He was arrested in Dublin in 1679, tried for treason but refused to renounce his Roman Catholicism. It is said that when the guilty verdict was delivered Plunkett said ‘Deo Gratias’ (‘Thanks be to God’). He was hung, drawn and quartered in 1681. He has patronage of peace and reconciliation in Ireland. Thankfully, in our present day, the zealotry shown by people such as Titus Oates does not result in the death of those they seek to persecute in this country. However, we can never be complacent.
WEDNESDAY 2nd JULY
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 3rd JULY
S. Thomas – The doubting Apostle who would not believe those who had seen the Resurrected Christ. Our Lord appeared and showed Thomas his hands; ‘My Lord and my God,’ S. Thomas said in response. At some point after the day of Pentecost he went to India and evangelised the people there. The Portuguese, as they explored and laid claim to parts of India in the 1520s arrived to find existing Christian communities. The Faith has remained strong, particularly in the Keralan region, Missionaries from these parts are now coming to Europe.
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
4th July – S. Elizabeth of Portugal – Aged twelve she was married to King Diniz of Portugal with whom she had two children. He had several illegitimate children who she raised as if they were her own. She also gave much of her time and resource to the poor and prostitutes. She became a widow aged approximately 54 and moved into a Convent run by the Poor Clares where she gave much hospitality to pilgrims and those in need. She is a model example of a Christian soul who considered all to be her neighbour.
SUNDAY 6th JULY
3rd Sunday after Trinity/14th Sunday in Ordinary Time and 14th Week
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Eigon, Llanigon
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
6.00 pm Parish Mass at Little S. Mary’s, Capel-y-Ffin
MONDAY 7th JULY
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 9th JULY
S. Veronica Guiliani – There is growing familiarity with the works of Julian of Norwich, and to a lesser degree with Margery Kempe, both of whom recorded their spiritual experiences in writing and are regarded as mystics. S. Veronica Guiliani was a Nun in the Duchy of Urbino, born 1660 and died 1727, who did likewise, recording the intense spiritual encounters that she had with God. At one stage her local Bishop removed her from the Convent and only allowed her back when satisfied that her experiences were genuine.
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 10th JULY
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
11th July – S. Benedict of Nursia – Regarded to be the founder of Western monasticism, the Rule of Saint Benedict was adapted by many religious communities. The monastic community founded by Fr. Ignatius and resident at Capel-y-Ffin observed the rule and was a Benedictine community. The brothers from Belmont Abbey by Hereford, who sing at part of the annual pilgrimage of Our Lady along the Wye, are Benedictine. A statue of S. Bendict resides in the Chancel of S. Mary’s.
SUNDAY 13th JULY
4th Sunday after Trinity/15th Sunday of Ordinary Time and 15th Week
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Eigon, Llanigon
11.00 am Mattins at S. Michael and All Angels, Clyro
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
MONDAY 14th JULY
S. Camillus de Lissis – Born into nobility in 1550 Camillus became a solider, enjoyed his gambling, and squandered away his wealth. An untreated leg wound developed into an ulcer and, in order to be treated, he took employment at the hospital in Rome where he was staying. Confronted by corruption and indifference whilst working at the hospital, he began to amend his ways and felt called to provide medical care for the poor. Under the guidance of his confessor, S. Philip Neri, he eventually started to train for the Priesthood and was ordained in 1584. In time he founded a religious congregation to care for the sick and wounded. Initially based in Rome, by the time of his death they had grown and were spread across Italy and into Hungary. Perhaps invoke his aid when visiting the Doctor’s surgery or entering a hospital.
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
15th July – S. Swithun – According to tradition should it rain today then we are in for a wet summer. He was Bishop of Winchester for eleven years and requested that on his death he be buried outside the Cathedral, ‘where it might be subject to the raindrops pouring from on high.’ In time devotion to him grew and he was reinterred inside the Cathedral when it said that there was heavy rain. I am sure that opinion will be divided among us as to whether it be advantageous to have a wet summer this year.
WEDNESDAY 16th JULY
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 17th JULY
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
19th July – S. Gregory of Nyssa – Clearly from a powerhouse of the day, as he, his brother and his sister, were all instrumental to the life of the fourth century Church. His sister, Macrina, became a Nun whilst Gregory and his brother Basil were appointed as Bishops. The basic tenants of the Christian Faith were much disputed at the time, with various ideas having currency that have been declared heretical. S. Gregory was also a critic of the institution of slavery which came out of his understanding of the Holy Trinity.
SUNDAY 20th JULY
5th Sunday after Trinity/16th Sunday of Ordinary Time and 16th Week
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Eigon, Llanigon
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
6.00 pm Evensong at Little S. Mary’s, Capel-y-Ffin
MONDAY 21st JULY
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
22nd July – S. Mary Magdalene – One of the women who formed the entourage that went with Our Lord around and about. Depending on the Gospel account, she was either the first person, or in the first group of women, to know of and witness the Resurrection.
WEDNESDAY 23rd JULY
S. Bridget of Sweden – Another mystic who had numerous visions, which led her to form a religious congregation. She left Sweden and went to live in Rome where she became a well-known, if not universally popular, person. Both within and without the Church there are those who decide against people who speak against abuses and misuse of office. What price, however, can be placed upon the truth?
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 24th JULY
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
25th July – S. James the Apostle – The first Apostle to be martyred, this coming by order of King Herod Agrippa. It is known that he went to martyrdom in Jerusalem and tradition holds that, prior to this, he went to evangelise the Iberian Peninsula. It is a matter of faith that his relics were transferred to Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain and are now underneath the High Altar in the Cathedral. I visited last month and the atmosphere around the Cathedral of pilgrims who had walked the Camino or, like me, arrived by some form of transport, is electric. The Portico of Glory and Botafumerio (a large thurible that hangs from the roof) are stunning; perhaps I ought to ring up the Church Wardens and declare, ‘I have had an idea…’
26th July – Ss. Anne and Joachim – Mother and father to Our Lady. My predecessor served his Curacy at the Church of S. Anne in Roath, Cardiff. He composed a little hymn to S. Anne, saying that both God and I can call her ‘gran’.
SUNDAY 27th JULY
6th Sunday after Trinity/17th Sunday of Ordinary Time and 17th Week
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Michael and All Angels, Clyro
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
MONDAY 28th JULY
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 30th JULY
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 31st JULY
S. Ignatius of Loyola – A Basque Spaniard who in 1541 founded the Jesuit order. He envisioned that the purpose of the order be to teach the Faith and undertake missionary work. He wrote a popular devotional text known as the Spiritual Exercises. I undertook my undergraduate degree at a Jesuit college in London and greatly valued the inclusion of philosophy within the study of theology. I would argue that it is essential, though those who run some of the courses for the training of Deacons and Priests in the Anglican Church appear to be in error as they do not give place for philosophy, rhetoric and the like in their formational curriculum.
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
Dates for the diary
Our Lady’s pilgrimage on the Wye – Once again we shall mark the Principle feast of Our Lady, the Assumption on Friday 15th August, with Mass in S. Mary’s, a procession through town, and a couple of days afloat with rowers along the Wye. May Our Lady intercede for us and guide us to care better for the gift of God’s creation.
Fr. Ignatius Memorial Pilgrimage – The annual pilgrimage, starting at Llanthony Abbey, stopping at Little S. Mary’s, Capel-y-Ffin and concluding at the ruined monastery church at Capel-y-Ffin takes place on Saturday 30th August.
The Angelus bell rings out twice a day at S. Mary’s, 12.00 noon and 6.00 pm before evening prayer. This devotion reminds people that they are being prayed for and blessed. The Angelus is a very ancient devotion – and I hope that when people hear the bell ringing (3×3, then 9) they will pause and join with the prayer being offered in the church as it rings. Fr. David
