The highs and lows of the Christian year come together this weekend as churches across St Albans, Harpenden and district celebrate Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

On Good Friday, Christians solemnly recall the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, on a cross in Jerusalem, with the hopes of his disciples seemingly dashed. On Easter Day, we celebrate joyfully how Jesus came back from the dead, bringing the promise of new life, eternal life, to all who put their trust in him.

Churches across the area will be holding special services to commemorate both these special days. Visitors are welcome at any of the services listed below.

Rev Peter Crumpler

Curate, St Leonard’s Church, Sandridge

Good Friday

10am – Pre-school children’s service, St Albans Cathedral; Ecumenical family service, St Peter’s Parish Church, Riverside, London Colney

9.45am – Procession of Witness, meet on Lower Luton Road, St Helen’s Church, Wheathampstead

10.15am – United Procession of Witness, St Julian’s Church, Abbots Avenue, St Albans

10.30am – Reflective, Hatfield Road Methodist Church; service for Good Friday, Marlborough Road Methodist, St Albans; outdoor service at How Wood shops, Holy Trinity Church, Frogmore, St Albans; Good Friday family service, St Paul’s Church, Hatfield Road, St Albans; all-age worship, St John the Baptist Church, St John’s Road, Harpenden

10.40am – Good Friday service, Christ Church, High Oaks, St Albans

11am – Short reflective service, The Ridgeway Church, Sandringham School, The Ridgeway, St Albans

12pm – Meditations at the Cross led by the Bishop of Hertford, St Peter’s Church, St Peter’s Street, St Albans; Devotion, St Albans Cathedral; Meditation, Vineyard Church, Brick Knoll Park, St Albans; Liturgy and preaching, St Michael’s Church, St Michael’s Street, St Albans; The Power of the Cross, St John the Baptist, Harpenden

2pm – Walking the Way of the Cross, reflections with readings, music and prayer, St Peter’s Church; Good Friday Liturgy, St Saviour’s Church, Sandpit Lane, St Albans; children’s service, St Michael’s Church, St Albans; quiet reflective service, St Leonard’s Church, Sandridge; reflective meditation and music, St Helen’s Church, High Street, Wheathampstead; quiet reflective service, St Paul’s Church, St Albans; Hour before the Cross, St Luke’s Church, Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans; The Way of the Cross, St Stephen’s Church, Watling Street, St Albans

3pm –Reflection, Marshalswick Baptist Church, Sherwood Avenue, St Albans

6.30pm – Choral Evensong, St Peter’s Church

8pm – Unity at the Cross, led by Churches Together in St Albans, St Albans Cathedral

Easter Sunday

6am – Son Rise, St Peter’s Church, Lamer Lane, Gustard Wood; Son Rise, St Peter’s Church, High Street, Wheathampstead

8am – Said Eucharist, St Peter’s Church, St Peter’s Street, St Albans; Easter Holy Communion, Christ Church, Watling Street, Radlett; Parish Communion, St John the Baptist, Harpenden; Holy Communion, St Stephen’s Church, St Albans; Easter Sunday traditional Holy Communion, St Paul’s Church, St Albans

8.30am – Holy Communion for Easter Day, Marlborough Road Methodist, St Albans

9am – Holy Communion, Hatfield Road Methodist Church; Festival Communion, St Michael’s Church, St Albans

9.30am – Family Communion, St Julian’s Church, St Albans; Parish Communion, St John the Baptist, Harpenden; Procession and Festal Eucharist, St Saviour’s Church, St Albans; Easter Communion, St Helen’s Church, Wheathampstead; sung Eucharist with blessing of the Easter Garden, St Peter’s Church; Easter Sunday service, Vineyard Church, St Albans

9.45am – Easter family Communion, St John’s Church, Gills Hill Lane, Radlett

10am – Easter family service with Holy Communion, St Peter’s Parish Church, London Colney; Easter Holy Communion, Christ Church, Watling Street, Radlett; family celebration, Forest Town Church, Lyon Way, St Albans; celebration of Easter, Ashley Church, St Albans; Easter Day all-age service, The Ridgeway Church, Sandringham School, The Ridgeway, St Albans; family Communion with the Bishop of Hertford, St Stephen’s Church, St Albans; Communion service, Trinity URC, Beaconsfield Road, St Albans; sung Eucharist, to be broadcast live on BBC1, St Albans Cathedral; Easter all-age Communion followed by Easter Egg hunt, St Leonard’s Church, Sandridge

10.30am – All-age Easter service, Park Street Baptist Church, Penn Road, Park Street; informal service with opportunity for individual reflection, Network Church, Waldegrave Park; Easter service, The Forum, University of Herts; all-age celebration with Communion, St Luke’s Church, St Albans; celebratory all-age worship, Hatfield Road Methodist Church; Easter Day family Communion, St Paul’s Church, St Albans

11am – Walk of Witness through Radlett, Christ Church, Radlett; Easter Baptisms, Vineyard Church, St Albans; short reflective service, The Ridgeway Church, Sandringham School, The Ridgeway, St Albans

11.15am – Easter Day festival Communion, St Mary’s Church, Childwick Green; informal Easter praise for young families, St Helen’s School Hall, Brewhouse Hill, Wheathampstead; Easter celebration with Communion, St Peter’s Church, High Street, Wheathampstead; Easter celebration with Communion, St Peter’s Church, Gustard Wood

11.30am – Choral Mattins, St Peter’s Church; Easter Sunday service, Vineyard Church, St Albans

12.15pm – Said Eucharist, St Albans Cathedral

6pm – Celtic Communion service, St Leonard’s Church, Sandridge

6.30pm – Festal evensong with procession, St Peter’s Church; Holy Communion, St Stephen’s Church, St Albans; Easter Day evensong, sung by Abbey Girls Choir and men of the Cathedral Choir, St Albans Cathedral; Easter evening praise, St Paul’s Church, St Albans

7pm – Prayer and Praise, Hatfield Road Methodist Church