Lesser Festival (Anglicanism)

Lesser Festivalsare a type of observance in theAnglican Communion,including theChurch of England,considered to be less significant than aPrincipal Feast,Principal Holy Day,orFestival,but more significant than aCommemoration.Whereas Principal Feasts must be celebrated, it is not obligatory to observe Lesser Festivals. They are always attached to a calendar date, and are not observed if they fall on a Sunday, inHoly Week,or inEaster Week.InCommon Worshipeach Lesser Festival is provided with acollectand an indication ofliturgical colour.

Lesser Festivals in the Church of England

Source: C of E website.^[1]

2 January:Basil the GreatandGregory of Nazianzus,Bishops,Teachers of the Faith, 379 and 389
12 January:Aelred of Hexham,Abbot of Rievaulx,1167
13 January:Hilary,Bishop of Poitiers,Teacher of the Faith, 367
17 January:Antony of Egypt,Hermit,Abbot,356
19 January:Wulfstan,Bishop of Worcester,1095
21 January:Agnes,Child Martyr atRome,304
24 January:Francis de Sales,Bishop of Geneva,Teacher of the Faith, 1622
26 January:TimothyandTitus,Companions ofPaul
28 January:Thomas Aquinas,Priest, Philosopher, Teacher of the Faith, 1274
30 January:Charles,King and Martyr, 1649

17 March:Patrick,Bishop,Missionary,PatronofIreland,c 460
10 April:William Law,Priest,Spiritual Writer, 1761
20 May:Alcuin of York,Deacon,AbbotofTours,804
30 May:Josephine Butler,social reformer,1906
16 June:Richard,Bishop of Chichester,1253
11 July:Benedict of Nursia,Abbot ofMonte Cassino,Father of WesternMonasticism,c 550
14 July:John Keble,a leader of theOxford Movement,1866
20 August:Bernard,Abbot ofClairvaux,Teacher of the Faith, 1153
13 September:John Chrysostom,Bishop of Constantinople,Teacher of the Faith, 407
25 September:Lancelot Andrewes,overseer of theKing James Version of the Bible
4 October:Francis of Assisi,Friar,Deacon, Founder of theFriars Minor,1226
26 October:Alfred the Great,King of theWest Saxons,Scholar, 899
20 November:Edmund,Kingof theEast Angles,Martyr, 870
13 December:Lucy,Martyr atSyracuse,304