Ecumenism, prayer, liturgy, theological discussion all part of Sacred Triduum at Christ Church Vienna

Ecumenical leaders at the interchurch Good Friday service
There has been an Anglican priest in Vienna serving the British Ambassador and the British community since the late 17th century. The present building dates from 1877. Today the Church, although still closely affiliated to the British Embassy, serves members from over 25 different countries and is a truly multinational and multicultural community.

The chaplain, Canon Patrick Curran, also serves the daughter communities in Klagenfurt, Ljubljana and Zagreb. Fr Patrick is assisted by Fr Mike Waltner, the Assistant Curate, and the Revd Dr Robert Kinney, who assists as parish deacon. One of the parish interns on our Church of England intern scheme (CEMES), Philip Milton, is also on placement at Christ Church.

On Good Friday, Christ Church hosted an annual service for English speaking Christians of all traditions in the city. Clergy and lay leaders from the Methodist, Roman Catholic, Community Church, and the Church of Sweden came together for a one hour service of meditation on the final moments of Jesus's life. This service was in addition to the full round of the liturgies of the Sacred Triduum, from Maundy Thursday to Easter Day, which I was privileged this year to take part in with the faithful at Christ Church.

The Watch on Maundy Thursday after the Mass of the Lord's Supper
The Church's activities are wide ranging, from outreach projects to biblical and theological study groups. One group, historically named "The Men's Breakfast" expanded to include women for a session I led on the Church's approaches to the complex area of human sexuality.







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