Florence Holy Week Church Services in English, 2025

Giotto’s Crucifix in Santa Maria Novella

Here is a complete list of worship in English at Florence churches the week before Easter as well as Easter Sunday.

April 17: MAUNDY (or: HOLY) THURSDAY

Mass of the Lord’s Supper.  Santi Apostoli Catholic Church, Piazza del Limbo 1.  6 pm.

Washing of Feet and Stripping of Altar. St. James Episcopal Church, via Rucellai 9. 7 pm.

Eucharist. St. Mark’s English Church, via Maggio, 16. 7 pm.

April 18: GOOD FRIDAY

Solemn Liturgy on the Afternoon of the Passion and Death of the Lord. St. James Episcopal Church, via Rucellai 9. Noon & 7 pm.

Service of Music and Meditation. St. Mark’s English Church, via Maggio, 16.  2 – 3 pm.

Celebration of the Passion in English.  Santi Apostoli Catholic Church, Piazza del Limbo 1. 6 pm.

April 19: HOLY SATURDAY

Procession with the Stones of the Holy Sepulcher to the Duomo.  Santi Apostoli Catholic Church, Piazza del Limbo 1. 9 pm.  Easter Vigil Mass in Italian and English.  Santi Apostoli Catholic Church, Piazza del Limbo 1. 10 pm.

April 20: EASTER DAY

The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: Mass in English.  Santi Apostoli Catholic Church, Piazza del Limbo 1. 10:15 am.

Holy Eucharist.  10:30 am. Come and celebrate the biggest day in the Christian calendar, followed by Bring-and-Share Lunch (bring some food and drink to share).  St. Mark’s English Church, via Maggio, 16.

Mass of the Resurrection with Choir with Brass Accompaniment. 11 am.  St. James Episcopal Church, via Rucellai 9, followed by Easter egg hunt in the courtyard.

Music at St. Mark’s English church enjoyed a resurrection as well thanks to the recent presentation of church organ.  The instrument arrived from England, but was restored in Florence, a project that was supposed take a couple of days according to organ builder David Elliott, but which he worked on for more than two years.  A chapel in Cornwall, which closed down in 2015, donated the organ, which was dismantled and shipped to Italy.  En route, 312 pipes were stolen; once in Florence it was ascertained that the wood was eaten away because of humidity and termites, while some of the remaining pipes had been damaged due to customs inspection and previously by mice and bats. The 5th generation of a family of organ builders, Elliott trained at Henry Willis, a company which opened in 1880 and closed in 1969.