United Church Dorchester

We are a Christian Community seeking to be a Beacon of God's Light and Love for All

Easter 2026: special services and outreach events

We are looking forward to celebrating Easter this year. Listed below are the various special services and outreach events which will be taking place: you are very welcome to join us at any of these. 

If you need a handy guide to everything in one place, you can download a version of the United Church Easter 2026 information leaflet. This includes details of the main services and events taking place during Easter Week either at UCD or with Churches Together in Dorchester.

If you are also interested in earlier Lent activities, you can still join the Lent course at UCD. This meets at 12.30 every Wednesday in the UCD Foyer on South Street, and is this year exploring the 'Draw Near: Life-giving habits for Lent' resource. You will also be very welcome at the Lent lunches held every Wednesday in the UCD Hall.

Image by Freepik

Sunday 29 March: Palm Sunday
On Palm Sunday, we recall Jesus’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, seated, not as a king on a horse, but humbly on the colt of a donkey. 

Our 10.30am morning service will be led by Rev John Walker. 

Wednesday 1 April, 10.45am: Market Day Service
We have our usual Wednesday morning service* at 10.45am, led by Rev Brenda Stephenson, and lasting about 20 minutes.

This will be followed by Journey to the Empty Tomb, with reflections on Holy Week. The church will be open until 2.00pm.

* These services are designed to offer a time of quiet, reflection and support on the day when Dorchester is busy with Market Day business.

30 and 31 March, 1 April, late morning: Journey to the Empty Tomb

The church is opening so that people can explore the Stations of the Cross that mark the journey of Jesus to the Tomb. As you pause at each station there will be things to reflect on, touch, and take away. For the conclusion of the Journey, the Quiet Room just behind the main church will be set up as an Empty Tomb, allowing people time and space to consider their personal response to this most remarkable event.

The Journey will be open on:
Monday 30 March, 11am - 1pm
Tuesday 31 March, 12pm - 2pm
Wednesday 1 April, 11.30am - 2pm

Thursday 2 April, 7.30pm: Maundy Thursday
On Maundy Thursday, we remember the final meal of Jesus with his disciples, now called The Last Supper.

During the meal, Jesus took a piece of bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying, “Take and eat, this is my body”. Then he took a cup of wine, gave thanks and gave it to them saying, “Drink it, all of you, this is my blood poured out for many, my blood which seals God’s covenant”.

Our service will be led by Rev John Yarrien at 7.30pm, and will follow the format of the Tenebrae Service, with Holy Communion

Friday 3 April: Good Friday
On Good Friday, when we remember Jesus’s crucifixion, there will be a Walk of Witness organised by Churches Together. This will start with a short service at St Peter’s Church at 9.30am. We will then cross the High Street and walk slowly behind the cross down South Street, pausing part of the way down and stopping for a short service at the War Memorial, led by Rev John Yarrien.

Saturday 4 April: Holy Saturday
As a way of marking the Easter weekend, and blessing the people of Dorchester, we will be giving out daffodils and mini chocolate eggs on South Street, between 10.30am and 12pm.

We will be based outside the United Church - do join us if you can.

Sunday 5 April: Easter Day
On the first day of the week, at about sunrise, some women went to Jesus’s tomb with spices to anoint his body. But his body was not there, and they learnt that he had been raised from death and restored to life.

On Easter Day, our morning service will be at the usual time of 10.30am. It will be led by Rev John Yarrien and will include Holy Communion.

Earlier in the morning there will be a short ‘Son-Rise’ Service at Maumbury Rings at 6am. This is early in the day for many of us, but it is a wonderful experience to be with Christians from all the other churches in town, celebrating the great central truth of our faith.

Christ is Risen – He is Risen Indeed – Alleluiah