How the North West is marking Lent

Ash Wednesday 2026 has arrived - marking the beginning of the Christian holiday of Lent.

Events will be happening across north-west England as the Lent period unfolds over the next 40 days - culminating in Easter celebrations.

Here's all you need to know for the six week period that end on 2 April this Easter.

Lent is a Christian time of preparation for Easter recalling the 40 days Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert before he embarked on his ministry

Ash Wednesday marks the commencement of Lent - a 40 day period (plus Sundays) traditionally characterised by praying, fasting and the practice of almsgiving, where donations are made to those in poverty.

Some Christians may elect to give something up for Lent, a particular food or indulgence - and the period is traditionally reminiscent of Jesus Christ's 40 days spent in the wilderness.

The subsequent death and resurrection of Christ is later celebrated during Holy Week and Easter - marking the culmination of Lent and - a celebration of Jesus Christ.

Roman Catholics and High Anglican parishes mark Ash Wednesday with ashes, taken from burnt palms used on the previous year's Palm Sunday, smeared on their foreheads.

Bishop Matthew Porter, the Bishop of Bolton, together with local clergy – the Revd Canon Simon Cook (Area Dean of Bolton) and the Revd Hannah Lane (Vicar of Bolton) – will be in Bolton town centre offering Ashes to Go for people on the street.

During the season St Marys (the Hidden Gem) in Manchester city centre will have the Stations of the Cross when Christ's route to his crucifixion Calvary is recalled after 18:00 GMT Mass every Friday in Lent.

Later in Lent Anglican clergy will shine shoes in central Manchester in the week before Easter.

Priests, staff and parishioners at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral are taking part in the Big Lent Walk to support the work of Catholic aid agency Cafod to walk, run, or stroll 200 km over 40 days, to raise money for communities around the world to access clean water.

Riding Lights Theatre Company will present Night Falls, a new passion play by Paul Birch counting down to the Crucifixion at The Lighthouse, Telegraph Road, Birkenhead on 6 March 19:00 GMT.

Gravity Defied is a new Lent course based on the movie Wicked at St Michael's in the City, Upper Pitt Street, Liverpool each Thursday from 5 March to 2 April.

Anglicans and other Christians are forming discussion groups based on Knowing Jesus, an online course devised by Bishop Philip North.

A replica of the Shroud of Turin (believed to be the cloth used to wrap the body of Christ after the Crucifixion ) and supporting exhibition will be displayed at Blackburn Cathedral from 23 March until Sunday 12 April 2026.

At the end of Lent Christians in Lancaster hold a Good Friday Walk Of Witness, which begins in Dalton Square.

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