Via ACNS: Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is taking to Facebook to broadcast part of an Ash Wednesday service from Lambeth Palace tomorrow.
The intimate service will take place in the 800-year old chapel at Lambeth Palace, the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and will be attended by staff of Archbishop Justin Welby and members of the Community of St Ansem, the international community of young people who are living and praying at the Palace.
The service, which will use the traditional liturgy from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, will include a homily from Archbishop Justin for the beginning of Lent. The homily, and the first part of the service, will be broadcast live on Facebook and will be available as a video later.
This is the first time that an Archbishop of Canterbury has taken to social media to livestream services from Lambeth. Tune in via Facebook beginning at 12:25pm GMT (7:25am EST/4:25am PST – but remember, the video will be available later!).
From the Archbishop’s Facebook page:
It’s wonderful to know that people will be watching in many countries around the world. I know that will involve setting alarm clocks for some of you, and staying up late for others!
… I really hope you can join us for this new way of sharing our life of prayer and worship here at Lambeth Palace. And I wish you every blessing for Lent.
Where in the world are you observing Ash Wednesday?
Featured image: from the Archbishop of Canterbury on Facebook





Isn’t it rather incongruous to be holding Ash Wednesday “live from [any] Palace?
I think “Ash Wednesday live from the homeless encampment near the city dump” sounds more like Jesus…
Thanks but no thanks…
Kurt Hill
Brooklyn, NY
Please follow the comment policy by posting comments in the future with your first & last names. – ed
I hope that a transcript of the homily will be posted. It was hard to understand even with headphones.
“It’s wonderful to know that people will be watching in many countries around the world.”
Archbishop, many Episcopalians have been watching already–and looking for deeds, not words.