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.
Services January 2026
THURSDAY 1st JANUARY
Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God & the Circumcision of Christ.
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
SUNDAY 4th JANUARY
Epiphany (trans.) & Weekdays of Christmas Time: ‘We have seen his star in the East and have come with gifts to adore the Lord.’ The presenting of frankincense to the Christ Child means we must double on the ‘holy smoke’ this Sunday.
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 5th JANUARY
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
6th January – Epiphany (proper) – The twelfth day of Christmas. According to custom people should take down their Christmas decorations today.
WEDNESDAY 7th JANUARY
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 8th JANUARY
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
10th January – William Laud: Archbishop of Canterbury 1633-45. Appointed to the office during the reign of Charles I, he was martyred following a trial at which he was falsely accused of treason. The Archbishop-Designate, appointed after an unnecessarily long wait, is due to be placed on the throne of S. Augustine in Canterbury in March. The designate already seems to be plagued by past handling of safeguarding concerns which is what brought the last occupant to resign.
SUNDAY 11th JANUARY
Baptism of Christ & 1st Week in Ordinary Time
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 12th JANUARY
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 14th JANUARY
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 15th JANUARY
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
17th January – Charles Gore: Bishop of Worcester, Birmingham and finally Oxford. Whilst at Pusey House, Oxford, and prior to being appointed to positions necessitating pointy headwear, he founded the Society of the Resurrection who would later set-up home in Mirfield. The College of the Resurrection, known as Mirfield, has trained many a good Priest including our very own Fr. Richard Williams.
SUNDAY 18th JANUARY
Second Sunday of Epiphany, or in Ordinary Time, & 2nd Week in Ordinary Time
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 19th JANUARY
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
20th January – S. Sebastian: An early martyr, going to Our Lord circa 288 AD. Unlike the many Saints who died in later life, and are portrayed as wise and sage persons, he was about 32 and is shown as a young and handsome man. His place of burial can be visited when in Rome.
WEDNESDAY 21st JANUARY
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 22nd JANUARY
S. Vincent Palloti & S. Vincent of Zaragoza: A feast of Vincents. The current Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal and writer on S. John Fisher, is a Vincent. I worked for Caritas Westminster for just under two years and so he was the boss of my boss. A nice and kind man.
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
23rd January – S. Ildephonsus of Toledo: A Spaniard who was a monk and later Archbishop of Toledo. He had a deep and real devotion to Our Lady which is something to be commended and encouraged. The Church thrives when such devotion is present so let it be that this devotion grows within the Church of today.
24th January – S. Francis de Sales: Bishop of Geneva and teacher of the faith ( 1567-1622). Author of Introduction to the Devout Life, which whilst not a page-turner, is a good book worth spending time with. He did much to combat Calvinism, which makes him a Saint, regardless of any and all other merit.
SUNDAY 25th JANUARY
Conversion of S. Paul & 3rd Week in Ordinary Time.
As Saul of Tarsus, he was a zealous persecutor of Christians. He had a blinding revelation on the road to Damascus. The phrase ‘a Damascene conversion’ is used to indicate similar experiences or ones equally unlikely based on our knowledge of an individual. This reminds us that God cannot be, will not be, and is not limited by human experience.
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Michael and All Angels, Clyro
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
MONDAY 26th JANUARY
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 28th JANUARY
S. Thomas Aquinas: Referred to as the angelic Doctor. Apparently, he is on the curriculum for Philosophy at Hereford Sixth Form College. Sound!
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 29th JANUARY
S. Gildas: Lived for quite some time in a monastery in South Glamorgan, he later founded a community off the South Britany Coast. Critical of laxness among the faithful and clerics alike, I dread to think what he would say to me were we to meet.
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
FRIDAY 30th JANUARY
Charles, King & Martyr: This is Charles I, martyred following a puritan rebellion. Fortunately, the puritans could not overcome God and so proper service, as a Church with Sacraments and Episcopal order, was restored and remains to this day. Still, keeping his feast reminds us we cannot be complacent.
12.00 pm Solemn Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay with a guest preacher.
NOTICES
Annual Parish Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, Friday 10th – Monday 13th April 2026. For details, please see the Pilgrimage page.
Advent Group 2025
Many thanks to all who attended and contributed. Also, a deeply grateful vote of thanks to Fr. Richard Walker for leading us.
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
