Join a virtual pilgrimage across Wales on our 2026 Lent Course - From Pancakes to Palm Crosses

‘From Pancakes to Palm Crosses’ is a brand-new provincial Lent Course, designed to accompany you on your journey of reflection this Lent. Spanning the length and breadth of Wales, the course consists of Bible readings, reflections, and discussion questions, with each session based in one of our six historic cathedrals.

It can be completed in study groups, in church communities or at home. All the materials are fully bilingual and can be downloaded from the Church in Wales website. Each video is around 10 minutes long and provides discussion questions for a study group session that will last a recommended time of one hour.

Launching the course, the Archbishop of Wales says, “This course is an invitation to journey through the season of Lent as we prepare for Holy Week and Easter in all its sorrow and all its glory. It is an invitation to contemplate key themes of the season: prayer and self-discipline, suffering and hope. Whether you intend on doing this course on your own or with a group, this is an opportunity for us to grow spiritually and draw closer to God as we journey with Jesus through his life-giving passion and glorious resurrection.”

We hope you enjoy this course and use it to draw closer to God during this season of reflection! This course was made in collaboration with the Cathedral Deans, and written by the Very Revd Ian Black, Dean of Newport Cathedral, who says: "As we journey together round our six cathedrals this Lent, I pray that this course will help us enter more deeply into the meaning and themes of Lent and as we stop at each of the ancient holy places we will be helped to explore the mystery of God's gracious love."

The course begins in Bangor Cathedral, with the theme of Preparation. It discusses the practice of Shrove Tuesday and explores what nourishment we may need in order to begin a journey – both spiritual and physical.

The second session is down in St Davids Cathedral, with the theme of Persistence. This video focuses on physical pilgrimage and its history in St Davids, before exploring the last words of Saint David and how they can inform our faith today.

The third session is in Brecon Cathedral, with the theme of Penitence. Brecon Cathedral is an old Benedictine Priory, so the focus there is the importance of penitence to Benedictine monks, then applied to a modern Lenten journey.

The fourth session is in Llandaff Cathedral, with the theme of Praise. As this Sunday is also Mothering Sunday, the focus of this session is Mary the mother of Jesus, and the ways in which a church can be a mothering presence to all.

The fifth session, Passion, is in Newport Cathedral, where the focus is identifying and ministering to today’s Good Friday people. The Passion of Christ and the suffering that Jesus endures on the cross is explored in the context of urban spirituality, and responding to the injustice that we see in our world.

The final session, Palm Sunday, takes place in St Asaph Cathedral, and discusses Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and the subversions of power that that represented in his time. We then explore power, status, and servant leadership.

Lastly, there is a short epilogue video, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus on Easter day, with a message of hope and joy from all the contributors from across Wales.