S. Clement's Church

Call this is the week's ecumenical entry.

S. Clement's Church is Philadelphia, if not the world's, flagship Anglo-Catholic parish and is home to one of the finest church music programs to be found anywhere. Anglicans and Roman Catholics from around the globe call and email the parish with their questions on the traditional liturgy. Whatever your affiliation and liturgical altitude, one fact remains uncontested: S. Clement's will not be out-worked, especially during Holy Week, and sets marks in both quantity and quality of observance for other parishes to shoot for.

The parish maintains the pre 1955 Holy Week rites, folded chasubles and all. I stopped by this afternoon to look in on beginning of the Easter Vigil with its 12 lessons.(Service Sheet for the Easter Vigil)

I was a member of S. Clement's for several years before crossing the Tiber. I couldn't be happier where I am, but I would be less than honest if I said I didn't sometimes think wistfully of the melons of Egypt ... with orchestra.

Photos from the Vigil at S. Clement's

Sound Files from S. Clements (Right click to download, left click to play in browser)

Tract from the Prophecies (1:15-1.5 MB)

Sicut Cervus, G. P. da Palestrina (2:50-3.3 MB)

Gloria, Messe Solenelle, Charles-Marie Widor (4:31-5.2 MB)

S-Clement's Web Site (Don't miss the photo and music pages.)

My 2005 S. Clement's Holy Week Journal

S-Clement's Photo Archive

S. Clement's Holy Week Schedule for 2008

Palm Sunday

Matins and Lauds, 7:00 a.m.

Low Mass, 8.00 a.m.

Prime & Terce, 10:00 a.m.

Palm Ceremonies & High Mass 11.00 a.m.

Sext & None, 3:30 p.m.

Solemn Vespers & Benediction, 4.00 p.m.

Wednesday in Holy Week

Low Mass, 7:00 a.m.

Vespers, 5:30 p.m.

Tenebrae (recited), 6:30 p.m.

Maundy Thursday

Hours, 11:00 a.m.

Vespers, 5:30 p.m.

High Mass, Stripping of Altars, & the Maundy, 7.00 p.m.

Compline, 10:00 p.m.

Good Friday

Tenebrae (recited), 7:00 a.m.

Hours, 11:00 a.m.

Mass of the Pre-Sanctified and Veneration of the Relic of the True Cross, 12 Noon

Compline, 2:00 p.m.

Easter Even

Tenebrae (recited), 7:00 a.m.

Hours, 11:00 a.m.

Easter Vigil & First High Mass of Easter, 4.00 p.m.

Compline, 7:00 p.m.

Easter Day

Matins and Lauds, 7:00 a.m.

Hours, 9:30 a.m.

Low Mass, 8:00 a.m.

Procession & High Mass, 11 a.m

Vespers, 1:00 p.m.