The Anglican liturgical calendar for 2025 is a rich tapestry of faith, tradition, and worship that guides the rhythm of the Church year. It structures time around the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, providing a spiritual framework for Anglican believers worldwide. Each season in the liturgical calendar carries its own meaning, colors, and observances, shaping how the faithful pray, read scripture, and celebrate throughout the year. Understanding the 2025 Anglican liturgical calendar helps both clergy and laypeople engage more deeply in the sacred cycle of worship that connects past, present, and future generations of the Church.
Overview of the Anglican Liturgical Calendar
The Anglican liturgical calendar, sometimes called the Church Year, follows a pattern that repeats annually. It begins with Advent and concludes with the final Sundays after Pentecost, also known as Ordinary Time. The calendar is divided into seasons that commemorate specific events in the life of Christ and the history of salvation. These include Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost.
In 2025, the Anglican calendar maintains the same structure as in previous years, though specific dates shift depending on the movable feasts, particularly Easter. Each season carries distinct liturgical colors purple, white, green, and red that symbolize various theological themes, such as preparation, celebration, and growth in faith.
The Major Seasons in 2025
Advent 2024 2025
The liturgical year begins with Advent, a four-week period of anticipation leading up to Christmas. In 2025, Advent starts on December 1, 2024, and ends on December 24, 2024. The season focuses on preparing for the coming of Christ both his birth in Bethlehem and his promised return. The color purple is used to represent repentance and reflection, while some Anglican churches use blue to signify hope.
Each Sunday in Advent carries a special theme hope, peace, joy, and love. Candles symbolizing these virtues are lit progressively on the Advent wreath, marking the passage of time and spiritual readiness.
Christmas Season
The Christmas season in 2025 begins on December 25, 2024, and continues through January 5, 2025. It celebrates the incarnation God becoming human in the person of Jesus Christ. White, the color of joy and purity, adorns the altar during this time. The traditional twelve days of Christmas lead up to the Feast of the Epiphany, a major event that concludes the season.
Epiphany and the Season After Epiphany
The Feast of the Epiphany, observed on January 6, 2025, commemorates the visit of the Magi and the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles. The season after Epiphany continues until the beginning of Lent. During this time, the Church focuses on the manifestation of Christ’s glory through his ministry, miracles, and teachings. Green is used as the liturgical color, symbolizing spiritual growth and life in Christ.
Notable days within this period may include the Baptism of the Lord and the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, both emphasizing the divine mission of Jesus.
Lent 2025
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which falls on March 5, 2025. This 40-day season (excluding Sundays) is a time of fasting, repentance, and spiritual discipline, reflecting Jesus’ own 40 days in the wilderness. Purple returns as the liturgical color, representing penitence and reflection.
Throughout Lent, Anglicans are encouraged to engage in prayer, self-denial, and acts of service. Many churches hold special midweek services, Stations of the Cross, or Lenten studies. Lent concludes with Holy Week, which recalls the final days of Christ’s earthly life.
Holy Week and Easter 2025
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday on April 13, 2025, commemorating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. It is followed by Maundy Thursday (April 17), which recalls the Last Supper; Good Friday (April 18), marking Christ’s crucifixion; and Holy Saturday, a day of quiet reflection.
Easter Sunday in 2025 falls on April 20. It is the most important celebration in the Anglican calendar, representing the resurrection of Christ and victory over death. The color white returns, symbolizing new life and triumph. The Easter season continues for 50 days, culminating in Pentecost.
Pentecost and the Season After Pentecost
Pentecost, celebrated on June 8, 2025, commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. The color red is used during this feast to represent the flames of the Spirit. This marks the birth of the Church and the empowerment of believers to spread the gospel.
After Pentecost, the Church enters the longest period of the liturgical year, known as Ordinary Time or the Season after Pentecost. Green dominates the season, symbolizing growth and spiritual maturity. This time focuses on the teachings of Jesus and the life of the Christian community.
Principal Feasts and Holy Days in 2025
In addition to the main seasons, the Anglican liturgical calendar for 2025 includes several fixed feasts and commemorations. These holy days honor saints, martyrs, and key moments in the Church’s history.
- The Feast of the EpiphanyJanuary 6, 2025
- The Presentation of Christ in the TempleFebruary 2, 2025
- The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin MaryMarch 25, 2025
- The Ascension of the LordMay 29, 2025
- Trinity SundayJune 15, 2025
- All Saints’ DayNovember 1, 2025
- Christ the King SundayNovember 23, 2025
- First Sunday of AdventNovember 30, 2025
These observances offer opportunities for reflection and thanksgiving throughout the year. They remind the faithful of God’s continuing presence in history and in their lives today.
Liturgical Colors and Their Meanings
Colors play an important symbolic role in Anglican worship. They communicate the theological emphasis of each season and visually connect the congregation to the Church’s ongoing story. Below are the primary liturgical colors used throughout 2025
- PurpleUsed in Advent and Lent, representing repentance, reflection, and preparation.
- White or GoldUsed during Christmas, Easter, and major feast days to symbolize joy and resurrection.
- GreenUsed during the seasons after Epiphany and Pentecost, symbolizing growth and renewal.
- RedUsed on Pentecost, feasts of martyrs, and ordinations, representing the Holy Spirit and sacrifice.
- Blue (optional)Sometimes used in Advent to signify hope and expectation.
How the Calendar Shapes Anglican Worship
The Anglican liturgical calendar does more than organize the year it provides a theological rhythm that shapes worship, preaching, and personal devotion. The appointed readings, known as the lectionary, follow the seasons and ensure that the entire story of salvation is proclaimed over time. This connection between scripture and season helps believers experience the full narrative of God’s work in creation and redemption.
For clergy, the calendar offers structure for sermon planning and liturgical preparation. For parishioners, it encourages spiritual reflection and participation in the wider life of the Church. The recurring pattern of preparation, celebration, and reflection invites Anglicans to live their faith continually renewed by the cycle of the seasons.
The Anglican liturgical calendar for 2025 is a sacred roadmap that guides believers through the mysteries of the Christian faith. From the anticipation of Advent to the joy of Easter and the spiritual growth of Pentecost, each season offers unique opportunities for worship and renewal. By following this calendar, Anglicans around the world remain connected to centuries of tradition, finding meaning in the rhythm of holy time. As 2025 unfolds, the calendar serves as a reminder that the life of the Church is a continuous journey of faith, celebration, and hope rooted in the timeless story of Christ.