March What's On

The days are getting brighter and it’s beginning to look like Spring in the Cathedral garden. Here’s everything happening at Chester Cathedral this month. 

Our highlight event of March is the return of Assemble with the first of the 2025 programme on Thursday 25 March at 6.45pm. Assemble is an invitation to come and hear engaging speakers on topics relevant in our modern world. This time we will be discussing Who owns the moon? Exploring the ethics and boundaries of space. Join us to explore this pertinent question. 
Refreshments available from 6.15pm. 
Book your free ticket to Assemble at Chester Cathedral here.

Wednesday 5 March is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent. The Imposition of Ashes will be taking place at 12.30pm Holy Communion as well as the 7.30pm Choral Eucharist for Ash Wednesday. The Choral Eucharist will be sung by the Cathedral’s Nave Choir and will include the liturgy of penitence and ashing, please note there will also be incensed used during this service. 

On Thursday 6 March we will be hosting Marketing Cheshire Awards for the second year in a row. These prestigious awards honour our incredible tourism sector across Cheshire and Warrington. Congratulations to everyone shortlisted, including our incredible Music Department who are up for Team of the Year.

Friday 7 and 21 March Bereavement Café at 10am in Café 1092. The bereavement café is facilitated by a fully qualified HCPC-registered Art Psychotherapist and trauma specialist. It is a safe place for open conversations, empathy and shared support as we navigate healing and grief together.

London Concertante joins up on Friday 7 March 7.30pm with West End Musicals by Candlelight, an unforgettable night of musical theatre with live orchestra joined by some of West End's greatest singings for a show-stopping musical concert. Tickets available here. 

On Saturday 8 March at 7.30pm, come along for The Music of Bond. Enjoy some of cinema’s most iconic songs performed by a luscious symphony orchestra with vocalists under impressive illuminations. Get tickets here.

Every Tuesday from 11 March to 8 April, join us for the Cathedral Lent Course taking place in 30 St Werburgh St from 1-2.30pm. The 5-week course, written by Pete Greig, promises to be a worthwhile time of reflection in this season of self-examination. Taking themes from the days of Maundy Thursday through to Easter Sunday, this digs deep into people’s experience asking questions like “How am I going to get through this?”, “Why aren’t my prayers working?”, “Where is God when heaven is silent?” and “When will my prayers be answered?” Using a mix of formats from video interviews, bible study, discussion and prayer, this course is accessible, but at the same time thought-provoking. 
God on Mute: Engaging the Silence | Tuesday 11 March
Maundy Thursday: How? | Tuesday 18 March
Good Friday: Why? | Tuesday 25 March
Holy Saturday: Where? | Tuesday 1 April 
Easter Sunday: When? | Tuesday 8 April
Find out more and book onto this free course here. 

Additionally, the Lent series of Bible Talks: The Nicene Creed in Biblical Perspective will take place every Wednesday from 12 March to 9 April at 1.10-2pm. This year sees the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, call by the Emperor Constantine to bring unity to both a fractured church and empire. As part of Chester Cathedral’s celebration of this anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, this year’s Lenten bible talks will explore the creed in biblical perspective. Local biblical scholars will lead sessions on God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and the Last Things (eschatology).
Wednesday 12 March | in Song School | We believe in one God | Professor Paul Middleton
Wednesday 19 March | in Cloister Room | We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ | Professor Paul Middleton
Wednesday 26 March | in Song School | We believe in the Holy Spirit | Professor Loveday Alexander
Wednesday 2 April | in Cloister Room | We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church | Professor William Horbury
Wednesday 9 April | in Cloister Room | We believe in the life of the world to come | Professor Philip Alexander
Find out more and book onto these free bible talks here.

University of Chester will be in the building on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 March hosting graduations. Please note, the Nave will be closed and there will be limited access in the Cathedral. However, Café 1092, Gift Shop, Cloisters, and Garth remain open for visitors!

On Saturday 15 March CMS Choir return with their concert Splendours of the Baroque. Experience the brilliance of the baroque era of music captured by Handel’s setting of Dixit Dominus, Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Trumpets and Bach’s Magnificat. Tickets available here. 

For our Country music fans, come along to Thursday 20 and Friday 21 March Country by Candlelight. Get ready to hear all your favourite hits, from Dolly Parton, Luke Combs, Kenny Rogers, Rascal Flatts, Shania Twain, John Denver, Darius Rucker, Chris Stapleton and many more!
Tickets available here. 

Saturday 22 March at 10am we have our second Poetry for Peace Workshop. This inspirational and inspiring session is completely sold out, however due to popularity we have added another session on Saturday 29 March! Book your free ticket here before the spaces are gone. If you are in poetry make sure to join us for an evening of poetry with Imtiaz Dharkar under the Peace Doves on 20 May. Find out more here.  

Then in the evening of Saturday 22 March, An Evening of Radiohead return with a full live band, complete with the nationally renowned Mike Nowland String Trio. They will transport you on an epic journey through the bestselling band's back catalogue for a night of live music you will never forget. Book tickets here.

There will be a Choral Eucharist for the Annunciation of our Lord on Thursday 25 March at 5.30pm. In this Choral Eucharist, we commemorate the visit of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary to tell her that she would be the mother of God’s Son.

We finish the month off with A Vision of Elvis on Saturday 29 March. Celebrate the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll with the UK’s supreme Elvis – Rob Kingsley – and his talented cast. Tickets available here. 

And of course Small Sounds continues to take place every on Monday this month at 2pm and our weekly organ recitals happen every Thursday at 1.10.