‘Septuagesima – when we’re told To “run the race,” to “keep our hold” … A somewhat unattractive time Which hardly lends itself to rhyme’

‘But most of all let’s praise the few / Who are seen in their accustomed pew’ (John Betjeman) … the pews in the chapel in Saint John’s Hospital, Lichfield (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Patrick Comerford

Many churches and parishes, including Saint Mary and Saint Giles, have transferred tomorrow’s celebration of the Feast of the Presentation, and celebrated it today, although today is also the Fourth Sunday of Epiphany. In Ireland, many churches may also have marked today as Saint Brigid’s Day, the first day of Spring.

Today is just three Sundays before Lent, and as that Sunday it was also marked in the Book of Common Prayer as Septuagesima, a traditional name in Anglicanism that seems to be forgotten by most these days.

The three Sundays before Lent once had special Latin names in the Book of Common Prayer, names that were shared in most traditions in the Western Church. Although these Sundays are usually counted as ‘Ordinary Time’ in many traditions today, some Anglican parishes still use the original Latin names, and they are reminders that Lent and its disciplines are imminent.

These three Sundays were known as:

Septuagesima Sunday: the Third Sunday before Lent, which falls this year today (Sunday 1 February 2026), although most parishes and churches are celebrating it as the Feast of the Presentation, and some as the Fourth Sunday of Epiphany (Epiphany IV). In the early Church, no Gloria or Alleluia was sung on this Sunday because this was the first Sunday of the call to Lenten discipline. Although the word Septuagesima means ‘seventieth’, this Sunday falls only 63 days before Easter.

Early Christians began observing Lent the day after Septuagesima Sunday. This is because Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays were not days of fasting in the early Church. So, if the faithful wished to fast for 40 days before Easter, they would start the Monday after Septuagesima Sunday. Today, only Sunday is a non-fast day, and so Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.

Sexagesima Sunday: the Second Sunday before Lent, which is next Sunday (8 February 2026). In the Early Church, Lent would have started on the previous Monday. In some parts of the Eastern Orthodox church, this Sunday is known as ‘No Meat Sunday,’ and the dietary observances for Lent begin on this day.

Quinquagesima Sunday: the final Sunday before Lent, or the Sunday before Ash Wednesday (15 February 2026). It is 50 days before Easter, hence quinquagesima or ‘fiftieth.’

‘Let’s praise the organist who tries’ (John Betjeman) … the organ in Saint John’s College Chapel, Oxford (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Once again, I have been reading the poem ‘Septuagesima’ by John Betjeman, in which he praises these Sunday names, which are almost unique to the Anglican tradition.

This poem was first broadcast on BBC West of England Radio in February 1954, and was recited some years ago by the then King Charles to mark National Poetry Day.

Septuagesima, by John Betjeman:

Septuagesima – seventy days
To Easter’s primrose tide of praise;
The Gesimas—Septua, Sexa, Quinc
Mean Lent is near, which makes you think.
Septuagesima – when we’re told
To “run the race,” to “keep our hold,”
Ignore injustice, not give in, and practice stern self-discipline;
A somewhat unattractive time
Which hardly lends itself to rhyme.

But still it gives the chance to me
To praise our dear old C. of E.
So other churches please forgive
Lines on the church in which I live,
The Church of England of my birth,
The kindest church to me on Earth.

There may be those who like things fully
Argued out, and call you “woolly”;
Ignoring Creeds and Catechism
They say the C. of E.’s “in schism.”

There may be those who much resent
Priest, Liturgy, and Sacrament,
Whose worship is what they call “free,”
Well, let them be so, but for me
There’s refuge in the C. of E.

And when it comes that I must die
I hope the Vicar’s standing by,
I won’t care if he’s “Low” or “High”
For he’ll be there to aid my soul
On that dread journey to its goal,
With Sacrament and prayer and Blessing
After I’ve done my last confessing.

And at that time may I receive
The Grace most firmly to believe,
For if the Christian’s Faith’s untrue
What is the point of me and you?

But this is all anticipating
Septuagesima – time of waiting,
Running the race or holding fast.
Let’s praise the man who goes to light
The church stove on an icy night.
Let’s praise that hard-worked he or she
The Treasurer of the P.C.C.
Let’s praise the cleaner of the aisles,
The nave and candlesticks and tiles.

Let’s praise the organist who tries
To make the choir increase in size,
Or if that simply cannot be,
Just to improve its quality.
Let’s praise the ringers in the tower
Who come to ring in cold and shower.

But most of all let’s praise the few
Who are seen in their accustomed pew
Throughout the year, whate’er the weather,
That they may worship God together.
These, like a fire of glowing coals,
Strike warmth into each other’s souls,
And though they be but two or three
They keep the church for you and me.

‘Let’s praise the ringers in the tower / Who come to ring in cold and shower’ (John Betjeman) … the bells in the tower in All Saints’ Church, Calverton (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)