Customary of Grace Church

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NB: An extra server is needed to carry the cross as the M.C. is otherwise occupied.

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All is done as usual except as otherwise noted.

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1. When the celebrant is censing the altar, the candlebearers go to the Sanctus bells at St. Mary’s altar and the Blessed Sacrament altar.  The crossbearer goes to the Sanctus bell at the high altar.  Throughout the organ fanfare that precedes the Gloria in excelsis, they ring these bells.  Then they carry them out to the sacristy, returning to their places by the end of the Gloria.

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2. The Washing of Feet follows the sermon.  The celebrant goes to the chancel step to read the allocution.  The M.C. stands at his right, facing him.  The candlebearers (without candles) stand behind him.

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3. The M.C. takes the book from the celebrant and puts it on the table beside his chair.  He directs those whose feet are to be washed to their places.

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4. The celebrant goes to the table near the font and takes the ewer.

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5. The assisting priest goes from her place to the same table and takes the basin.

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6. Throughout the footwashing the assisting priest (at the celebrant’s left) moves the basin.  The candlebearers stand behind the celebrant, to his right and to his left.  The candlebearer at his right hands him a clean towel after he has poured water over each person’s feet.  The candlebearer at his left picks up the used towel.

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7. After the footwashing, the celebrant and assisting priest take the basin and ewer back to the table near the font.  The celebrant washes his hands.  The celebrant, assisting priest, and M.C. return to their places.

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8. The candlebearers take the used towels out of the sacristy and then return to their places.

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9. Mass proceeds as usual, but at the fraction an empty ciborium is brought to the altar.  The hosts for Good Friday communion are broken and placed in this ciborium.

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10. After communion, when the celebrant takes the chalice and paten to the credence for the ablutions, the ciborium and decanter are left on the corporal.

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11. There is no blessing or dismissal.

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12. After the postcommunion prayer, the celebrant and assisting priest descend the steps to the pavement.  The thurifer and M.C. approach.  The assisting priest holds the boat as the celebrant puts on incense.  The four kneel on the lowest step (the M.C. at the celebrant’s left, the assisting priest at the celebrant’s right, the thurifer at the assisting priest’s right).  The celebrant censes the Blessed Sacrament.  The celebrant and assisting priest pass the censer to the thurifer.

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13. One of the candlebearers places the humeral veil over the celebrant’s shoulders.

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14. The celebrant, assisting priest, and M.C. ascend the steps.  When the celebrant has picked up the ciborium and decanter, the assisting priest (or M.C.) covers his hands with the humeral veil.

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15. Meanwhile, the procession forms, and the hymn, Now my tongue the mystery telling, begins.  The crossbearer, candlebearers, readers, and lay eucharistic ministers take their usual positions.  The thurifer remains at the foot of the altar steps.

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16. The M.C. and assisting priest descend the steps and genuflect.  The thurifer and readers genuflect with them.  (The crossbearer and candlebearers do not.)

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17. The crossbearer and candlebearers lead the procession.  The thurifer walks immediately ahead of the celebrant.  The M.C. and assisting priest flank the celebrant.

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18. The procession moves to All Saints’ Chapel.

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19. Upon reaching the rail in All Saints’ Chapel:

• The candlebearers (separating from the crossbearer) place their candles on the altar and then move outside the rail (to the far right and left.

• The crossbearer stands outside the rail at the far left.

• The thurifer moves to the right

• The celebrant, assisting priest, and M.C. go directly to the altar.

• The celebrant places the sacrament on the altar.  All except the crossbearer genuflect.

• The assisting priest removes the humeral veil from the celebrant’s shoulder and places it on the rail.

• The celebrant, assisting priest, and M.C. move outside the rail.

• As the penultimate verse of the hymn\ (“Therefore, we, before him bending…) begins, all kneel, and the celebrant censes the Blessed Sacrament.

• At the end of the hymn the celebrant removes his chasuble, and the stripping of the altars begins.​