Quick answer
Church Near Me tracks the full Christian year — Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost — with today's liturgical season and upcoming dates below. Use it to plan a visit around the great feasts and seasons of the church year.
Church Year
The Christian Calendar
The church year follows a cycle of seasons, each focusing on a different aspect of the Christian faith. Updated daily.
Today — Saturday, 18 July 2026
Ordinary Time — Week 7
134
days until
Advent
Ordinary Time is the longest season of the church year. It focuses on the life, teaching and ministry of Jesus Christ and the growth of the Church. The word 'ordinary' comes from the Latin ordinalis, meaning 'numbered' — it refers to the numbered Sundays rather than a specific mystery of faith. Green vestments symbolise life, hope and growth in faith.
Advent begins 29 November 2026
Upcoming Church Year Dates
29 Nov
Sun
25 Dec
Fri
Easter Dates
2026
5 April 2026
2027
28 March 2027
Easter is a moveable feast — it falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21 March. Eastern Orthodox Easter is calculated using the Julian calendar and usually falls on a different date.
The Seasons of the Church Year
Advent Purple
Four weeks before Christmas. A season of preparation, expectation and penitence. Four Advent candles are lit progressively on each Sunday.
Christmastide White & Gold
25 December to 5 January. The Twelve Days of Christmas, celebrating the Incarnation of Christ.
Epiphanytide Green
From 6 January to Ash Wednesday. Commemorates the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles and the beginning of his public ministry.
Lent Purple
40 days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday. A season of fasting, penitence and preparation for Easter.
Holy Week Red
Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday. Commemorates the Passion of Christ: his entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, and his crucifixion.
Eastertide White & Gold
50 days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost. Celebrates the Resurrection. Alleluia returns to worship after Lent.
Ordinary Time Green
The remainder of the church year after Trinity Sunday until Advent. Focussing on Christ's life, teaching, miracles and the growth of the Church.
Liturgical Colours
Advent, Lent — preparation and penitence
Christmas, Easter, feasts of Christ and saints
Christmas Day, Easter Sunday — highest feasts
Holy Week, Pentecost, feasts of martyrs
Ordinary Time — growth and life
Advent in some Anglican parishes
Related Guides
Church Year Dates — the Next 12 Months
| Event | Date | Season |
|---|---|---|
| First Sunday of Advent | Sunday 29 November – 24 December 2026 | Advent |
| Christmas Eve — Crib Services, Carols & Midnight Mass | 24 December 2026 | Christmas |
| Christmas Day | 25 December 2026 | Christmas |
| Christmastide (the Twelve Days of Christmas) | Friday 25 December – 5 January 2027 | Christmas |
| Epiphany | 6 January 2027 | Epiphany |
| Orthodox Christmas Day | 7 January 2027 | Christmas |
| Ash Wednesday | 10 February 2027 | Lent |
| Lent | Wednesday 10 February – 27 March 2027 | Lent |
| Palm Sunday | 21 March 2027 | Holy Week |
| Holy Week | Sunday 21 March – 27 March 2027 | Holy Week |
| Maundy Thursday | 25 March 2027 | Holy Week |
| Good Friday | 26 March 2027 | Holy Week |
| Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil) | 27 March 2027 | Holy Week |
| Easter Sunday | 28 March 2027 | Easter |
| Eastertide | Sunday 28 March – 15 May 2027 | Easter |
| Ascension Day | 6 May 2027 | Easter |
| Pentecost (Whit Sunday) | 16 May 2027 | Pentecost |
| Trinity Sunday | 23 May 2027 | Pentecost |
Dates are computed from the events table — moveable feasts derive from the lunar Easter cycle, and each season rolls over to next year automatically once it passes. Churches across all UK traditions mark these dates; check individual church profiles for service times.