The Prince of Wales has recorded a special gospel reading that will be broadcast by Westminster Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral on Easter Day.
The podecast is part of the Abbey's "Abbeycast" series of podcasts for worshippers across the world. Each podcast has a reading, short address, an anthem, prayers and a blessing.
There will also be a special broadcast of the Vatican premiere of Catholic composer Sir James MacMillan’s Stabat mater, on the Genesis Foundation’s YouTube channel at 7.30pm BST on Good Friday, tomorrow.
These are among the many online initiatives helping take Christians through Holy Week and into the Easter festival at a time of unprecedented closure of churches and cancellation of services throughout the world. Many priests and bishops will be streaming live services on YouTube and other online facilities. The Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols will broadcast an Easter service across all 39 BBC local radio stations at 8am on Easter Day.
The Prince of Wales will read from the Gospel of John, vv20:1-18. The Prince’s contribution was recorded at Birkhall, his home in Scotland, earlier this week.
Three podcasts have already been released for the Annunciation, Passion Sunday, Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday. Others are coming for Good Friday and Holy Saturday as well as Easter Day.
The audio recording by Prince Charles will be included in an Easter Day service to be released online by Canterbury Cathedral.
The Abbey said the podcasts were recorded by the Abbey’s clergy and residents who all observed social distancing with the files edited off-site by Abbey staff. The music was recorded before the pandemic by the Abbey Choir, conducted by James O’Donnell, organist and master of the choristers.
The podcasts are available via the Abbey website. The Easter Day podcast will be published at 9am on Sunday.
The Tablet has a list of resources at this time, for Catholics and all Christians on our special coronavirus help page, Isolated but not Alone.
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