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Latest News from The Lancaster Priory. You can subscribe to our regular newsletter HERE.

 

Lancaster Day

A lineup of events has been announced to celebrate the first ever ‘Lancaster Day’.

This celebration of the city, its heritage and history, will be held on Wednesday, June 12.

It will mark the anniversary of the signing of the city’s first charter on June 12 1193.

On the day, the original charter will be showcased in Lancaster City Museum, alongside a day of entertainment for the community.

Lancaster Priory will be flying the Lancaster City flag from its tower.

Other events will include the chance to ‘Meet The Normans’ in the city centre, a vintage DJ, town criers telling the Lancaster story, tours, talks and walks.

Lancaster Priory, the Castle, the Judges’ Lodgings, the City Museum and the Police Museum will all be open on the day.

Here is the full line-up of events on Lancaster Day.

  • Lancaster Musical Theatre Choir - 27/05/24

    We are excited to announce that Leigh Rhianon Coggins will be leading this choir which will commence on Monday 23rd September 2024 7.45 - 9.15pm This is a new venture at Lancaster Priory, and we look forward to opening our doors to this choir and to share in the joy of singing in this... Read more

  • An Inclusive Church - Prayers of Love and Faith - 27/02/24

    The Priory and Parish Church of St Mary’s, Lancaster is an Inclusive Church. God shows no partiality.  As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are seeking to live out the command he gave us to love one another as he loves... Read more

  • Facing the Past: The Three Sophia's - Responding - Disrupting - Making space to acknowledge the unacknowledged - 30/11/23

    In 2020 Lancaster Priory was one focal point for local Black Lives Matter protests, when a memorial was sprayed with the words ‘Slave Trader.’ This began a process of bringing to light the crimes against humanity that were perpetrated as part of the Transatlantic Slave Trade by... Read more

  • Access to The Priory Oct 2023 - Oct 2024 - 10/10/23

    Vehicle access to the Priory has changed.  During the current renovation works to Lancaster Castle, vehicle access to The Priory is via the Shire Hall route only. Read more

  • A new team member for Lancaster Priory! - 05/03/23

    We are pleased to announce that the Revd Louis Johnson has been appointed as Associate Priest of The Priory in Lancaster. Please do keep praying for Louis and Christine as they settle into this parish and as Louis continues his work as Associate Priest. Read more

  • Light in the darkness - 27/10/22

    As the nights get darker we begin to mark a series of events where we remember both our history and the people of our past and also pay tribute to the communities we live, work and worship in. This sunday we keep the Feast day of All Saints.  All Saints’ Day celebrates those in whose... Read more

  • National Lottery Funding Boost for Lancaster Slave Trade Project - 13/05/22

    NATIONAL LOTTERY FUNDING BOOST FOR LANCASTER SLAVE TRADE PROJECT The National Lottery Heritage Fund has given significant backing to Facing The Past 2, a major project... Read more

  • A renewed commitment to the Marsh thanks to the Lottery Fund! - 06/05/22

    We are pleased to announce that Lancaster Priory has received funding from the National Lottery Awards for All Community Fund for our work within the Marsh Community in the Parish.   We are thankful for the ongoing support of the community... Read more

  • Lancaster Priory Christmas Cards have arrived! - 07/12/21

    Lancaster Priory Christmas Cards have arrived! A great big thank you to Ellen Greyling for this nativity design especially for 2021. Cards can be purchased in church from this morning - £5 for 10 cards. All proceeds will help to support mission and ministry at the Priory. Read more

  • Restoration of the Clock Dial - 28/10/21

    Our clock dial has been restored in the workshop of Cumbria Clock Co LTD near Penrith and will be reinstalled soon. Read more

  • Facing The Past Phase 2: PROJECT MANAGER - 13/09/21

    JOB OPPORTUNITY Facing The Past Phase 2: PROJECT MANAGER The Lancaster Priory Memorial Commissioning Group is now recruiting a freelance Project Manager, initially for 15 days in Autumn 2021, to take the project to the next phase. It is expected that the role will be extended as new funds for the project come in.   For... Read more

  • New Vicar of Lancaster - 06/09/21

    When Canon Leah Vasey-Saunders is inducted at Lancaster Priory on Wednesday, she will be the first female Vicar of Lancaster. Leah is joined by her husband of 20 years, Dr Rev Mark Vasey-Saunders, an academic tutor at St Hild Theological College in Yorkshire; and their children: Reuben, aged 17, a student at Chetham’s School of Music;... Read more

  • New Wedding Registrations - 23/06/21

    Following a change to the wedding registration of couples, after 400 years, both parents' names are now included in the register. Below is a picture of our first wedding couple in The Priory marking this momentous occasion. Photo courtesy of Samantha ( Read more

  • Tower Restoration - Latest Update - 10/05/21

    Please click on the link below to hear the latest update on our tower restoration from Elaine Blackett-Ord, Blackett-Ord Conservation Architecture.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxz8OTOtduk Read more

  • SEEKING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FROM ARTISTS - FACING THE PAST PROJECT - 22/04/21

    What is the project? The Judges' Lodgings Museum and the Priory Church in Lancaster are looking for four-six artists to work on a proposed new project about the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The project aims to reflect, reveal, and redress omissions in our collective memory of the role Lancaster played in the transatlantic slave trade and of the enslaved... Read more

  • HOLY WEEK 2021 - 09/03/21

    Services during Holy Week which require prebooking: Maundy Thursday Liturgy of the Last Supper and the Watch from 7.30pm to midnight Good Friday Solemn Liturgy 2.00pm Easter Sunday 10am Eucharist Read more

  • Reopening for Public Worship 14 March - 05/03/21

    From the Churchwardens Dear Friends, Earlier this week we received the very welcome news from the Coronavirus Task Group in the Diocese that, following advice received from the Directors of Public Health in Lancashire, churches can and should reopen for public worship on Sundays and Feast Days, with effect from March 8th. This means that we are now... Read more

  • VICAR OF LANCASTER RETIRES - 18/02/21

    The Rev Canon Chris Newlands conducted his final service at the Priory on Sunday, January 31, after 11 years as Vicar of Lancaster. The special service and farewell video was streamed online from 6.30pm as lockdown restrictions mean there was no congregation present to mark Canon Newlands retirement. Live streaming of services has resulted in the Priory enjoying a global reach and... Read more

  • LANCASTER PRIORY PLANS NEW SLAVERY MEMORIAL - 17/02/21

    Community consultation is now underway into plans for a new slave trade memorial in Lancaster. For the first time in 150 years, a memorial will be installed in the Priory churchyard where the grave of the Rawlinson slave trading family was daubed with red paint last spring. It was a result of this action and following the Black Lives Matter demonstrations... Read more