What to know what is happening or has happened at St. Clement’s? Here is a Calendar of Events with a calendar of the current month as well as event details plus links for your calendar. Details for each event listed are updated as and when they are decided or become known. There is also a short past events section with key events in St. Clement’s recent history.
Calendar of Events for December 2024
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December 2024
Wednesday 18th December 2024 at 5pm – Evensong from the Book of Common Prayer (1662) The origins of Evensong date back to Christian and Jewish prayers at the end of the day and the shape of Evensong was first set by the great Reformation Martyr Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in the first Book of Common Prayer (1549), based on the Catholic offices (daily services) of Vespers and Compline. Join us and participate in an intense, intimate act of worship that has entranced Anglicans by its simplicity and uplifting language for over three and a half centuries. Find out more about our Book of Common Prayer Services at St. Clement’s here. Our Psalms will be: Psalm 42 – Like as the hart desireth the water brooks and Psalm 61 – Hear my crying, O God. Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 39, New Testament Lesson: Matthew 17:14-21. If you wish to practise the chants beforehand, you can find them at https://anglican.cz/book-of-common-prayer-services
Friday 20th December 2024 at 5pm – Carolling around Prague Do you fancy yourself a Caroller? Do you have a voice and an urge to bring joy and pleasure to many around Prague? Then meet us at St. Clement’s at 5pm to depart for this relaxed evening of singing traditional carols around the streets of Prague. We will start off by singing carols at Náměstí Republiky before moving on to the Old Town Square and Václavské náměstí. We finally sing at the Café Louvre near Narodni Divadlo. St. Clement’s will provide a complimentary drink at the Café Louvre, but if you would like to eat there, you will need to pay for the meal. Please contact the Chaplain as soon as possible if you are interested in joining us so we can give accurate refreshment numbers to the Café Louvre.
Sunday 22nd December 2024 at 11am – Sung Eucharist for the Fourth Sunday in Advent. Readings: Micah 5:2-5 in which we hear that Bethlehem will bring forth the Messiah, Luke 1:46-55, the Magnificat. Holy Gospel: Luke 1:39-45 where Mary visits Elizabeth. Hymns: TBC. If you would like to practise the hymns beforehand, you can find them and many others at www.hymnary.org. Please click here for a pdf copy of the Order of Service.
Sunday 22nd December 2024 at 6.30pm – Ukrainian Service of Carols. Ukraine is a country steeped in music, and carols play a special part in that musical tradition. From the world-famous Carol of the Bells to less well known, but nonetheless beautiful compositions, many based on folk tunes, we are happy to host such a joyous service for our Ukrainian brethren at such a difficult time for their country.
Tuesday 24th December 2024 at 1130pm – Midnight Mass Eucharist. Readings: Psalm 85 in which we pray for revival and restoration, Zechariah 2 where we hear about the vision of the man with the measuring line. Holy Gospel: TBC. Hymns: TBC.
Wednesday 25th December 2024 at 11am – Sung Eucharist for Christmas Day. Readings: TBC. Holy Gospel: TBC. Hymns: TBC.
Sunday 29th December 2024 at 11am – Sung Eucharist for the First Sunday of Christmas. (Preacher: John Noonan). Readings: Psalm 148 where Heaven and Earth are exhorted to praise the Lord, Colossians 3:12-17 in which we are told of the virtues of active Christian living as God’s chosen people. Holy Gospel: TBC. Hymns: TBC. If you would like to practise the hymns beforehand, you can find them and many others at www.hymnary.org.
Selected Past Events
Wednesday 11th December 2024 at 6.30pm – Church Christmas Fundraiser Concert Our Advent Choir concert has become a firm favourite at St. Clement’s, with our Choir treating us to a selection of orchestral and choral treats for the ears, and this year was no exception. With music ranging from Allegri’s “Miserere mei” to Händel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”, there was something for both families and music lovers alike. Other highlights were gorgeous renditions of “O Holy Night”, “O Come, All ye Faithful”, and the world famous Ukrainain “Carol of the Bells”. A night to remember and many congratulations to the Choir for such a memorable evening which raise over 8,000 CZK for our Ministry!
Sunday November 3rd 2024 at 11am – Sung Eucharist for All Saints Day and Christening. Our Christening is a key day in the life of every one of us as Christians. As one of the most important Sacraments in the Anglican faith, our Christening is the moment when we receive our Christian name and our Godparents to help us grow in our faith, as well as the moment when we are baptised and welcomed into God’s church. For us at St. Clement’s being able to welcome a new christian soul into our midst is a source of great joy and a true privilege, and so it was today, when we welcomed the beautiful Monturayo Emma into our St. Clement’s family. As you can see she was keen to show her appreciation of the Reverend Nathanial’s efforts!
Sunday 27th October 2024 – Archdeaconry Synod and Commission of Reverend Nathanial as Area Dean. At this October’s Archdeaconry Synod, held in Belgrade, Serbia, we were represented by our Reverend Nathanial and Babatunde Adenubi. Both we as a Chaplaincy and Reverend Nathanial are honoured that he was selected to be Area Dean and commissioned as such in a special ceremony at the Synod by our Bishop, the Right Reverend Doctor Robert Innes, assisted by our Archdeacon. Nathanial’s role will be to assist Chaplaincies in their day to day work in Austria, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, and Slovenia. Congratulations Nathanial!
Left to Right: The Right Reverend Dr Robert Innes, Bishop of Europe, Tunde Adenubi, St. Clement’s Lay Synod Representative, The Right Reverend Hilarion, Bishop of Novobrd and Vicar of the Patriarch
Thursday 20th June 2024 – Concert by the Choirs of Grace Church, New York, USA. We were honoured to be able to host a concert given by the Choirs of Grace Church, an Episcopal Church located in the very centre of New York City. The church, which is often described as one of the city’s greatest architectural treasures, is a French Gothic Revival masterpiece designed by James Renwick Jr., a major American architect, who also designed St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the same city. Grace Church has a strong musical and charitable tradition which was evident to all who attended and enjoyed the excellent concert which included works by Beethoven, Duruflé and Rutter as well as moving Spiritual music. A collection was taken.
Sunday 26th May 2024 – Annual Church Picnic. We chose to ignore the weather forecasts that spoke of rain and held our annual church picnic, as ever, in Lannova Park next to the church. Our faith in good weather paid off and we were bathed in warm sunlight, allowing us to thoroughly enjoy this popular annual event, sharing food, laughing and enjoying each other’s company.
Sunday 5th May 2024 – Sung Eucharist for the Sixth Sunday of Easter and Choir Second Anniversary. A choir brings life and music to any congregation, and we are immensely lucky to have had a choir at St. Clement’s for the past two years. To commemorate the event, the choir made a special musical contribution to our service and you can see a choir’s eye view video recording of this service by clicking here!
Wednesday 10th April 2024 – Inaugural Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer (1662). The origins of Evening Prayer date back to Christian and Jewish prayers at the end of the day and the shape of Evening Prayer was first set by the great Reformation Martyr Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in the first Book of Common Prayer (1549), based on the Catholic offices (daily services) of Vespers and Compline. Our inaugural Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer (1662) was well attended with standing room only and gave us the opportunity to participate in an intense, timeless act of worship that has entranced Anglicans by its simplicity and uplifting language for over three and a half centuries.
Sunday 24th March 2024 – 2024 Grand Auction in aid of St. Clement’s. We came together after our Palm Sunday service for a spirited 2024 Grand Auction which raised over 25,000 Kc for St. Clement’s. Great fun was had by all and we would like to thank both all those who kindly donated such a cornucopia of items for auction as well as those who bid (and sometimes won!) items to take home with them.
Thursday 18th January 2024 – Young Adult Group Meeting. At our fourth Young Adult meeting , we met at the first floor of Klimentská 18 and talked about our experiences and understanding of baptism under the light of Jesus’s baptism in the Gospels.
Saturday 6th January 2024 – Organ concert at St. Clement’s by Professor Michal Novenko. We are immensely privileged at St. Clement’s to have Professor Michal Novenko as our regular organist. Professor Novenko has been a Professor of Improvisation at the Prague Conservatoire since 1990 and has performed at many major international organ festivals. He is indubitably one of the most accomplished organists in Prague, if not Europe. On the 6th of January 2024 Professor Novenko treated us to some of the very best pieces from his repertoirs, including Brahms, Handel, Bach, Smetana and Dvořák as well as an example of his own magnificent improvisation skills. During the concert we were treated to a short but truly remarkable performance by the Choir of Hatfield College, University of Durham, who were on a choir tour to Prague. If you missed it, you can hear a recording of the full concert here.
The Choir of Hatfield College, University of Durham after the Organ Concert on 6th January 2023
Friday December 22nd 2023 – Ukrainian Carol Service. Having looked forward all year to this memorable event we spent an unforgettable evening of heavenly voices and timeless music from Ukraine together with all our Ukrainian friends.
Sunday 10th December 2023 after Church. This year once again a group of St. Clement’s parishioners undertook the annual trip to Brno to support the Brno Congregation and attend their Christmas Lessons and Carols Service at 1700. We were wonderfully received by Lea and Brno congregation and look forward to seeing them again very soon!
Our intrepid visitors to Brno!
Wednesday December 6th 2023 – St. Clement’s Church Christmas Fundraiser Concert. We had a packed Church for our first Choir Fundraising Concert, which raised over CZK 13,000 on the night, a spectacular result. We enjoyed timeless Christmas classics and sang along with the St. Clement’s choir to our favourite Christmas Carols, all in aid of a good cause, our work at St. Clement’s. Music included “O Holy Night”, the Ukrainian classic “Carol of the Bells”, and the majestic “Hallelujah Chorus”, and many others. Hopefully this will become a firm favourite in our Church calendar, and all thanks are due to the Choir and the Musicians taking part.
Tuesday 28th November 2023 – “Preparing For Advent” Taizé Service. Our second Taizé service was a joyous celebration of advent in the Taizé tradition with sung and chanted prayers, meditation, a period of silence, liturgical readings, and icons.
Sunday 26th September 2023 – Licensing of Rev’d Nathanial Nathanial and Reader John Noonan. It does not seems like 5 years since Nathanial joined us, but it is. As such he required re-licensing, and we were happy to welcome our Archdeacon back for the Service. In addition we were overjoyed to welcome back John Noonan as our Reader after a (short) retirement, and an added bonus was to see the Rev’d Lea Williams visiting us from Brno! Here is the team assembled after the Service. From left to right the Rev’d Lea Williams, the Rev’d Nathanial Nathanial, our Archdeacon the Venerable Dr Leslie Nathaniel, and Reader John Noonan.
Tuesday October 3rd 2023 – Young Adult Group Inaugural meeting. At our first St. Clement’s Young Adult Group meeting, we talked about different faces of Jesus Christ, looking at artworks from various cultures around the world. With homemade food to foster the spirit of sharing with our neighbours, we considered and discussed our individual relationships with Jesus as well as the Triune God. The date of the next meeting is to be announced. For more information, visit our Instagram or contact us via email at youngadult@anglican.cz
Thursday 28th September 2023 – One day Spiritual Retreat in Oko. With the invaluable help of Debby Nichols we organised a one day Spiritual Retreat in Okoř, to the North West of Prague, where we spent a wonderful, uplifting day discussing what faith means to us and meditating on the words and deeper meaning of Psalm 23.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
We would like to thank Debbie from the bottom of our hearts for organising this wonderful day of contemplation and reflection in such beautiful surroundings.
The Participants at this year’s Spiritual Retreat during a break
Wednesday September 6th 2023 – Evensong (1662 BCP) followed by a concert by the Durham University College Chapel Choir. We were privileged to host the University College Chapel Choir from Durham University in the UK. University College, known lovingly as “Castle,” is the oldest of Durham University’s Colleges and was founded in 1837, shortly after the foundation of the University itself in 1832. The College is fortunate to possess two historic chapels: the Norman Chapel dating from the 11th Century and the Tunstall Chapel, established in the 1540’s, which was used by the Prince Bishops of Durham as their private chapel. The Choir is an auditioned ensemble of sixteen choral scholars and is regarded to be one of the finest choirs in the North East of England. The Choir has a busy schedule, leading weekly services of Evensong, Eucharist and Compline in Durham Castle’s two chapels as well as numerous special services, concerts, recordings and tours. On the 6th of September Evensong at St. Clement’s using the 1662 Book of Common Prayer was followed by a remarkable concert including choral works by Thomas Tallis, Henry Purcell, William Byrd, Charles Wood, Charles Villiers Stanford, and Ralph Vaughan-Williams.
Sunday June 18th 2023 – Sung Eucharist for the Second Sunday after Trinity and visit of the Sheffield University Chamber Choir. On the 18th of June we welcomed the Sheffield University Chamber Choir to St. Clement’s and were thrilled to hear their wonderful voices raised with ours in praise. The Sheffield University Chamber Choir sings a wide array of sacred and secular music, ranging from the music of the 16th to the 21st century. This talented group of singers has gone from strength to strength under new conductor Matthew Warbis, including a joint concert with the English Touring Opera in Spring 2022. At our Sung Eucharist service they treated us to a wonderful rendition of the Motet “Beati Quorum Via” (Sir Charles Villiers Stanford) during Communion. You can find out more about the Chamber Choir here and you can follow their Facebook profile here.
The Sheffield University Chamber Choir after the service at St. Clement’s on Sunday June 18th 2023
Sunday June 11th 2023 – Sung Eucharist for the First Sunday after Trinity and visit of the Munich English Choir. We very much enjoyed the visit of the quite excellent Munich English Choir to St. Clement’s and were privileged to have such a talented group of amateur and semi-professional singers raising their voices with us in praise. Founded by Stephen Norton in 2010, the choir now has about 32 members. When Stephen Norton passed away unexpectedly in 2020, the members decided to continue the work of the choir in order to honour his work and spirit of. In 2021 Dr Nick Ukiah was appointed Choirmaster and he now shares his inspiration and commitment to English choral music with choir and listeners alike. We were treated to wonderful renditions of music as follows: Introit – O Thou the Central Orb (Charles Wood); Sanctus – Sanctus from Requiem (Gabriel Fauré); Communion anthems – Ave Verum (Sir Edward Elgar); God So Loved the World (Sir John Stanier); Closing anthem I Was Glad (Sir Hubert Parry). You can find out more about the Munich English Choir at https://www.facebook.com/MunichEnglishChoir. in the words of Nick Ukiah: “Personally, the trip was a highlight of my year and I have heard from many in the choir that they fell the same. It was a tremendous joy to be able to visit your church and, of course, Prague.”
The Munich English Choir after the service at St. Clement’s on Sunday June 11th 2023
Sunday May 14th 2023 – Sung Eucharist for the Sixth Sunday in Easter. We were particularly honoured to have worshipping with us Bishop David Hellington Kodia, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Bondo, Kenya, who was visiting Prague. You can find out more about Bishop Kodia and the Diocese of Bondo here. Bishop Kodia was kind enough to give a small talk during the service, having been introduced after the sermon. He described how he had been studying in Prague in 1990. He was a newly ordained priest, over from Kenya – and he was witness to Prague in chaos. Anglican worship was confined to services once a month at the British Embassy with an elderly chaplain visiting from the Embassy in Vienna. Bishop Kodia took matters into his own hands and asked the authorities where a small congregation could worship (there were only 5 – 3 Africans and 2 Europeans!). The authorities told him to look at the dozens of churches were had been closed under the regime… some of them had been closed so long that the keys had been lost. Eventually, however, he met someone from the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren (ECCB), our host congregation today, and he was told about St Clement’s. He remembers approaching it, and – when it was unlocked – immediately thinking ‘this is just right’….. so worship began, just the 5 to start with, and the seed for our congregation today was sown… Please find the bulletin for this service here.
Bishop David Hellington Kodia during his talk on Sunday May 14th 2023 at St. Clement’s.
Sunday May 7th 2023 – Special Sung Eucharist for the Fifth Sunday in Easter and the Coronation of King Charles III. A very special Coronation Day was had by all, starting with a service with readings from the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 7, describing the martyrdom of Saint Stephen, and the first Letter of Peter, about how we are all living stone, part of God’s spiritual house, and a Chosen People called out of the darkness into the light. The Gospel reading was John 14:1-14 where Jesus comforts the Disciples and tells them that he is the way to God. Musical inspiration came in the form of hymns such as “Fight the good fight”, “Jesu, lover of my soul”, “Come down, O Love divine”, and a throaty “Guide me, O thou great Redeemer” (Cwm Rhondda), all chosen for their connections to King Charles III as Supreme Governor of the Church of England (and thus its Head). The service was followed by a Coronation Picnic in Lannova Park.
Sunday April 16th 2023 – Celebration of Ukrainian Orthodox Easter.
In this special Sung Eucharist we celebrated Ukrainian Orthodox Easter together with our Ukrainian friends. Our adapted service included dual language hymns, a traditional reading in Ukrainian of a text by St John Chrysostom known as the “Paschal Sermon” (with the English translation then read out by the Chaplain), and a musical rendition of the Lord’s Prayer in Ukrainian (Отче наш or “Otche Nash”) during Communion. Not only was it wonderful to enjoy the wonderful sounds of Ukrainian words and music, but it was a joyous opportunity to deepen yet further the links to our Ukrainian friends and express our ongoing admiration and support for them!
Sunday 2nd April 2023 – 2023 St. Clement’s annual auction
The annual auction has quickly become a staple in our calendar and great fun is had by all who attend and bid! This year we raised over 21,000 CZK from more than 40 items which were auctioned for our ministry, so thank you for being so generous, both in donating and in bidding. The donation of a video projector has opened up all sorts of wonderful possibilities, including St. Clement’s film nights! Watch this space!
Wednesday February 22nd 2023 – Ash Wednesday ‘Taizé’ Service
This past Ash Wednesday we marked the beginning of Lent with a “Taizé” service. Taizé is an ecumenical monastic community located in Taizé, France, founded in the 1940s. A Taizé worship service involves sung and chanted prayers, meditation, a period of silence and liturgical readings. There is no sermon. Many came to experience this revealing and novel way to approach God. You can find out more about Taizé here. We enjoyed the following Readings: Joel 2. 1-2 and 12-17; Psalm 51. 1-17; the Holy Gospel was John 8. 1-11 and you can find the Order of Service here.
December 14th 2022 – St. Clement’s Carolling Evening
As every year (with a short Covid interruption!) an intrepid group from St. Clement’s braved the cold and snow, gathering to walk the centre of Prague, carolling!
A wonderful evening was had by all, and we even got to sing inside the British Embassy, which was a particular pleasure, since Ambassador Nick aArcher and his wife Erica are due to leave Prague in January 2023. We look forward to the new incoming Ambassador continuing the tradition of inviting joyous St. Clement’s singers into the wonderful Thun Palace that houses the Embassy.
Carolling in the British Embassy
Eastern Archdeaconry Synod – 20th to 23rd October 2022
St. Clement’s forms part of the Eastern Archdeaconry of the Anglican Diocese in Europe, and our Archdeacon is The Venerable Doctor Leslie Nathaniel. You can find out more about the Diocese’s Archdeacons here. The Eastern Archdeaconry Synod 2022 was held right here in Prague from the 20th to the 23rd October 2022 at the Wellness Hotel Step, where the theme of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity” was taken forward (you can find out more about the WCC here). The Reverend Nathanial and Stephen Weeks, one of our Churchwardens, introduced St. Clement’s and the history of Anglicanism in Prague to the attendees,
after which there were discussions on the worrying situation in Ukraine as well as time spent looking at the WCC theme via Bible Study sessions, as well as examinations of Interfaith issues, Environmental Justice issues and Racial Justice issues. Key Safeguarding and Anti-bullying policies were also discussed.
The Synod finished on Sunday with a Sung Eucharist worship service at St. Clement’s with a Sermon and Confirmations by our Bishop, the Right Reverend Doctor Robert Innes.
Confirmands and the Bishop, The Right Reverend Dr Robert Innes, the Chaplain and the Reverend Lea Williams
