Following on from the 'Christmas Busy (1)' blog entry I thought it might be helpful to have a list of the feasts, festivals and commemorations - those 'high days and holidays' of our church calendar posted here.
So often I find myself having to explain to people about the tenets of our faith and the things that make us distinctly Anglican. The feasts and festivals are something we generally share with the wider church (RC and others) and help us to celebrate (and focus) on important events in the Church calendar and to consider the saints whose life (and perhaps death) make our Christian living just that little bit easier.
Some dates are fixed (ie. Christmas) whilst others (Easter) are determined by the moon (Easter being the Sunday after the third full moon of the year ie. since Christmas).
So here's what I think is the full calendar:
Moveable Dates
The Baptism of Christ, the Sunday following the Epiphany (when the Epiphany is kept on 6 January)
ASH WEDNESDAY, the Wednesday 46 days before Easter Day
MAUNDY THURSDAY, the Thursday in the week before Easter Day
GOOD FRIDAY, the Friday in the week before Easter Day
EASTER DAY, the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon
ASCENSION DAY, the Thursday forty days after Easter Day
DAY OF PENTECOST, the Sunday fifty days after Easter Day
TRINITY SUNDAY, the Sunday after Pentecost
The Day of Thanksgiving for the Institution of Holy Communion (Corpus Christi), the Thursday after Trinity Sunday
Dedication Festival, the first Sunday in October or the Last Sunday after Trinity, if date unknown
Christ the King, the Sunday next before Advent
Fixed Dates
January
2 Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishops, Teachers of the Faith, 379 and 389
2 Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah, Bishop in South India, Evangelist, 1945
6 THE EPIPHANY – may be celebrated on the Sunday between 2 and 8 January
10 William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1645
11 Mary Slessor, Missionary in West Africa, 1915
12 Aelred of Hexham, Abbot of Rievaulx, 1167
12 Benedict Biscop, Abbot of Wearmouth, Scholar, 689
13 Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, Teacher of the Faith, 367
13 Kentigern (Mungo), Missionary Bishop in Strathclyde and Cumbria, 603
13 George Fox, Founder of the Society of Friends (the Quakers), 1691
17 Antony of Egypt, Hermit, Abbot, 356
17 Charles Gore, Bishop, Founder of the Community of the Resurrection, 1932
18 Amy Carmichael, Founder of the Dohnavur Fellowship, Spiritual Writer, 1951
19 Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester, 1095
20 Richard Rolle of Hampole, Spiritual Writer, 1349
22 Vincent of Saragossa, Deacon, first Martyr of Spain, 304
24 Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, Teacher of the Faith, 1622
28 Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Philosopher, Teacher of the Faith, 1274
31 John Bosco, Priest, Founder of the Salesian Teaching Order, 1888
February
1 Brigid of Kildare, Abbess of Kildare, c.525
2 THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE (CANDLEMAS) – may be celebrated on the Sunday between 28 January and 3 February
3 Anskar, Archbishop of Bremen, Missionary in Denmark and Sweden, 865
4 Gilbert of Sempringham, Founder of the Gilbertine Order, 1189
6 The Martyrs of Japan, 1597
10 Scholastica, sister of Benedict, Abbess of Plombariola, c.543
14 Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs, 869 and 885
15 Thomas Bray, Priest, Founder of the SPCK and the SPG, 1730
17 Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda, Martyr, 1977
26 Saint Isabelle of France, Princess of France; Alexander of Alexandria, Roman Catholic, Pope
27 George Herbert, Priest, Poet, 1633
Alternative dates: Matthias may be celebrated on 24 February instead of 14 May.
March
1 David, Bishop of Menevia, Patron of Wales, c.601
2 Chad, Bishop of Lichfield, Missionary, 672
7 Perpetua, Felicity and their Companions, Martyrs at Carthage, 203
8 Edward King, Bishop of Lincoln, 1910
8 Felix, Bishop, Apostle to the East Angles, 647
8 Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, Priest, Poet, 1929
17 Patrick, Bishop, Missionary, Patron of Ireland, c.460
18 Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem, Teacher of the Faith, 386
20 Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, Missionary, 687
21 Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, Reformation Martyr, 1556
24 Walter Hilton of Thurgarton, Augustinian Canon, Mystic, 1396
24 Paul Couturier, Priest, Ecumenist, 1953
24 Óscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, Martyr, 1980
26 Harriet Monsell, Founder of the Community of St John the Baptist, 1883
31 John Donne, Priest, Poet, 1631
Alternative dates: Chad may be celebrated with Cedd on 26 October instead of 2 March. Cuthbert may be celebrated on 4 September instead of 20 March.
[edit]April
1 Frederick Denison Maurice, Priest, Teacher of the Faith, 1872
9 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Lutheran Pastor, Martyr, 1945
10 William Law, Priest, Spiritual Writer, 1761
10 William of Ockham, Friar, Philosopher, Teacher of the Faith, 1347
11 George Selwyn, first Bishop of New Zealand, 1878
16 Isabella Gilmore, Deaconess, 1923
19 Alphege, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1012
24 Mellitus, Bishop of London, first Bishop at St Paul's, 624
24 The Seven Martyrs of the Melanesian Brotherhood, Solomon Islands, 2003
27 Christina Rossetti, Poet, 1894
28 Peter Chanel, Missionary in the South Pacific, Martyr, 1841
29 Catherine of Siena, Teacher of the Faith, 1380
30 Pandita Mary Ramabai, Translator of the Scriptures, 1922
May
1 Queen of Heaven, Philip and James, Apostles
2 Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 373
4 English Saints and Martyrs of the Reformation Era
8 Julian of Norwich, Spiritual Writer, c.1417
12 Gregory Dix, Priest, Monk, Scholar, 1952
16 Caroline Chisholm, Social Reformer, 1877
19 Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, Restorer of Monastic Life, 988
21 Helena, Protector of the Holy Places, 330
24 John and Charles Wesley, Evangelists, Hymn Writers, 1791 and 1788
25 The Venerable Bede, Monk at Jarrow, Scholar, Historian, 735
25 Aldhelm, Bishop of Sherborne, 709
26 Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, 605
26 John Calvin, Reformer, 1564
26 Philip Neri, Founder of the Oratorians, Spiritual Guide, 1595
30 Josephine Butler, Social Reformer, 1906
30 Joan of Arc, Visionary, 1431
30 Apolo Kivebulaya, Priest, Evangelist in Central Africa, 1933
Alternative dates: Matthias may be celebrated on 24 February instead of 14 May.
The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth may be celebrated on 2 July instead of 31 May.
June
3 The Martyrs of Uganda, 1885–7 and 1977
6 Ini Kopuria, Founder of the Melanesian Brotherhood, 1945
8 Thomas Ken, Bishop of Bath and Wells, Nonjuror, Hymn Writer, 1711
9 Columba, Abbot of Iona, Missionary, 597
9 Ephrem of Syria, Deacon, Hymn Writer, Teacher of the Faith, 373
14 Richard Baxter, Puritan Divine, 1691
15 Evelyn Underhill, Spiritual Writer, 1941
16 Richard, Bishop of Chichester, 1253
16 Joseph Butler, Bishop of Durham, Philosopher, 1752
17 Samuel and Henrietta Barnett, Social Reformers, 1913 and 1936
18 Bernard Mizeki, Apostle of the MaShona, Martyr, 1896
19 Sundar Singh of India, Sadhu (holy man), Evangelist, Teacher of the Faith, 1929
22 Alban, first Martyr of Britain, c.250
23 Etheldreda, Abbess of Ely, c.678
27 Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 444
28 Irenæus, Bishop of Lyon, Teacher of the Faith, c.200
Alternative dates: Peter the Apostle may be celebrated alone, without Paul, on 29 June.
July
1 Henry, John, and Henry Venn the younger, Priests, Evangelical Divines, 1797, 1813 and 1873
6 Thomas More, Scholar, and John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, Reformation Martyrs, 1535
11 Benedict of Nursia, Abbot of Monte Cassino, Father of Western Monasticism, c.550
14 John Keble, Priest, Tractarian, Poet, 1866
15 Swithun, Bishop of Winchester, c.862
15 Bonaventure, Friar, Bishop, Teacher of the Faith, 1274
16 Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury, 1099
18 Elizabeth Ferard, first Deaconess of the Church of England, Founder of the Community of St Andrew, 1883
19 Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, and his sister Macrina, Deaconess, Teachers of the Faith, c.394 and c.379
20 Margaret of Antioch, Martyr, 4th century
20 Bartolomé de las Casas, Apostle to the Indies, 1566
23 Bridget of Sweden, Abbess of Vadstena, 1373
27 Brooke Foss Westcott, Bishop of Durham, Teacher of the Faith, 1901
30 William Wilberforce, Social Reformer, Olaudah Equiano and Thomas Clarkson, Anti-Slavery Campaigners, 1833, 1797 and 1846
31 Ignatius of Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus, 1556
Alternative dates: The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth may be celebrated on 2 July instead of 31 May. Thomas the Apostle may be celebrated on 21 December instead of 3 July. Thomas Becket may be celebrated on 7 July instead of 29 December.
August
4 Jean-Baptiste Vianney, Curé d'Ars, Spiritual Guide, 1859
5 Oswald, King of Northumbria, Martyr, 642
7 John Mason Neale, Priest, Hymn Writer, 1866
8 Dominic, Priest, Founder of the Order of Preachers, 1221
9 Mary Sumner, Founder of the Mothers' Union, 1921
11 Clare of Assisi, Founder of the Minoresses (Poor Clares), 1253
11 John Henry Newman, Priest, Tractarian, 1890
13 Jeremy Taylor, Bishop of Down and Connor, Teacher of the Faith, 1667
13 Florence Nightingale, Nurse, Social Reformer, 1910
13 Octavia Hill, Social Reformer, 1912
14 Maximilian Kolbe, Friar, Martyr, 1941
20 William and Catherine Booth, Founders of the Salvation Army, 1912 and 1890
27 Monica, mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387
29 The Beheading of John the Baptist
30 John Bunyan, Spiritual Writer, 1688
31 Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, Missionary, 651
Alternative dates: The Blessed Virgin Mary may be celebrated on 8 September instead of 15 August.
September
1 Giles of Provence, Hermit, c.710
2 The Martyrs of Papua New Guinea, 1901 and 1942
3 Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome, Teacher of the Faith, 604
4 Birinus, Bishop of Dorchester (Oxon), Apostle of Wessex, 650
6 Allen Gardiner, Missionary, Founder of the South American Mission Society, 1851
9 Charles Fuge Lowder, Priest, 1880
13 John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, Teacher of the Faith, 407
15 Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, Martyr, 258
16 Ninian, Bishop of Galloway, Apostle of the Picts, c.432
16 Edward Bouverie Pusey, Priest, Tractarian, 1882
20 John Coleridge Patteson, First Bishop of Melanesia, and his Companions, Martyrs, 1871
25 Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop of Winchester, Spiritual Writer, 1626
25 Sergei of Radonezh, Russian Monastic Reformer, Teacher of the Faith, 1392
26 Wilson Carlile, Founder of the Church Army, 1942
27 Vincent de Paul, Founder of the Congregation of the Mission (Lazarists), 1660
30 Jerome, Translator of the Scriptures, Teacher of the Faith, 420
Alternative dates: Cuthbert may be celebrated on 4 September instead of 20 March.
October
1 Remigius, Bishop of Rheims, Apostle of the Franks, 533
1 Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, Social Reformer, 1885
3 George Bell, Bishop of Chichester, Ecumenist, Peacemaker, 1958
4 Francis of Assisi, Friar, Deacon, Founder of the Friars Minor, 1226
6 William Tyndale, Translator of the Scriptures, Reformation Martyr, 1536
9 Denys, Bishop of Paris, and his Companions, Martyrs, c.250
9 Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln, Philosopher, Scientist, 1253
10 Paulinus, Bishop of York, Missionary, 644
10 Thomas Traherne, Poet, Spiritual Writer, 1674
11 Ethelburga, Abbess of Barking, 675
11 James the Deacon, companion of Paulinus, 7th century
12 Wilfrid of Ripon, Bishop, Missionary, 709
12 Elizabeth Fry, Prison Reformer, 1845
12 Edith Cavell, Nurse, 1915
13 Edward the Confessor, King of England, 1066
15 Our Lady of Walsingham, Teresa of Avila, Teacher of the Faith, 1582
16 Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of London, and Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Worcester, Reformation Martyrs, 1555
17 Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, Martyr, c.107
19 Henry Martyn, Translator of the Scriptures, Missionary in India and Persia, 1812
25 Crispin and Crispinian, Martyrs at Rome, c.287
26 Alfred the Great, King of the West Saxons, Scholar, 899
26 Cedd, Abbot of Lastingham, Bishop of the East Saxons, 664
29 James Hannington, Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa, Martyr in Uganda, 1885
31 Martin Luther, Reformer, 1546
Alternative dates: Chad may be celebrated with Cedd on 26 October instead of 2 March.
November
3 Richard Hooker, Priest, Anglican Apologist, Teacher of the Faith, 1600
3 Martin of Porres, Friar, 1639
6 William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher of the Faith, 1944
7 Willibrord of York, Bishop, Apostle of Frisia, 739
9 Margery Kempe, Mystic, c.1440
10 Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome, Teacher of the Faith, 461
11 Martin, Bishop of Tours, c.397
13 Charles Simeon, Priest, Evangelical Divine, 1836
14 Samuel Seabury, first Anglican Bishop in North America, 1796
16 Edmund Rich of Abingdon, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1240
17 Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, 1200
18 Elizabeth of Hungary, Princess of Thuringia, Philanthropist, 1231
20 Edmund, King of the East Angles, Martyr, 870
20 Priscilla Lydia Sellon, a Restorer of the Religious Life in the Church of England, 1876
23 Clement, Bishop of Rome, Martyr, c.100
25 Catherine of Alexandria, Martyr, 4th century
25 Isaac Watts, Hymn Writer, 1748
December
1 Charles de Foucauld, Hermit in the Sahara, 1916
3 Francis Xavier, Jesuit Missionary, Apostle of the Indies, 1552
4 John of Damascus, Monk, Teacher of the Faith, c.749
4 Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, Founder of the Little Gidding Community, 1637
7 Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Teacher of the Faith, 397
13 Samuel Johnson, Moralist, 1784
14 John of the Cross, Poet, Teacher of the Faith, 1591
17 O SAPIENTIA
17 Eglantine Jebb, Social Reformer, Founder of 'Save The Children', 1928
26 Stephen, Deacon, First Martyr
27 John, Apostle and Evangelist
29 Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1170
31 John Wyclif, Reformer, 1384