Wednesday (17th) is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, though for most of us it has felt like Lent for a long time.

On Ash Wednesday many Christians go to church and have a mark of ashes placed on their foreheads as a symbol of repentance and following God. This year there are still services but there are differences as we will be following Covid guidelines.

There will be a service at St Mark’s at 12pm and St John’s at 7.30pm and there will also be a service here online and on Facebook and YouTube from 9am. You will need to bring your own ash suitable to place on your forehead and if you need advice on how to make it, watch this video here, courtesy of St Nics, Durham: