Mass, Westminster Cathedral

[HMReturnsBag]

On a weekday, not a feast day. Will this be well attended? I’m hoping to sit quietly at the back, won’t be taking communion.

Thank you.

I can only talk about Westminster Abbey (CofE) but their daily services are attended by a small regular congregation and a couple of religious tourists. No one would bat an eyelid at someone sitting quietly who didn't take communion

I regularly watch Mass on their live stream and I am sure you will be able to sit quietly at the back. You could go up for a blessing though. I am not a confirmed Catholic yet and have a blessing at my local Church on Sundays.

I am so envious of you too, it is a beautiful Cathedral!

Of course you can - it’s across the road from my London office so sometimes I go to Mass during my lunch hour if I’m down there for the day.

There’s usually at least a couple of hundred there - combination of locals, tourists, business people - you won’t stand out at all. If you go on a Sunday during term time you also get the choir, which is beautiful.

I wouldn’t imagine it will be particularly well-attended compared to a Sunday Mass. There is usually plenty of space to spread out. We went to 8am Mass on a Sunday v recently and although there were many more people than in our parish church, it didn’t feel like it. We went to Vespers and Benediction on the same day which was stunning and v special (but equally had plenty of space)

It is a beautiful space and always helps me reset.

The only thing to mention is that the relics of St Bernadette are coming to Westminster at the very beginning of September, and they are expecting big crowds throughout the three days. rcdow.org.uk/pilgrimages/lourdes/st-bernadette-relic-tour-2022/

Thank you, everyone.

It's relatively well attended any day, but a big space and pretty anonymous. Even when there's a decent sized congreagation you can easily sit at the back and mind your own business. They do an offertory collection at every Mass (unlike most parish churches) so there'll be someone wafting a bag in your face, but apart from that no one will pay you any mind. The only times I've ever spoken to someone at Mass in Westminster is when I've seen someone I already know.

One of the best aspects of Westminster Cathedral is Confession is usually offered frequently, it used to be all day but I won't assume that's the case anymore!

Since the pandemic it's no longer all day, sadly. Only 2 hours a day: 11.30 - 12.30 and 16.30 - 17.30 on weekdays (different times on weekends). It's a real shame and a big loss. It was one of the great things about visiting previously that you didn't need to militarily plan the day around getting there for a particular time, there would be confession (and usually a decent length queue) for most of the working day.

If anyone wants to go, I would advise arriving 30 minutes before the advertised starting time, the queue will be very long by the time confession actually starts. I was there a few weeks ago, arrived at 11.25 for an 11.30 start, and nearly didn't get the chance to go to confession because it was nearing the end time by the time I got to the front of the queue.