The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on 15 August by the Roman Catholic and some other churches.  This festival commemorates the belief that ‘the ever-virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory’.

One of the London churches which celebrates the festival is All Saints’ Margaret Street, just north of Oxford Street – an Anglo-Catholic church, sometimes described as ‘more Catholic than Catholic’.  In 2024, ‘Solemn Evensong with Procession & Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament’ was held on Sunday 11 August starting at 6.00 p.m., and a Solemn High Mass was held on Thursday 15 August, starting at 6.30.

On Sunday people, including a contingent from the Royal Hospital Chelsea, filled the church, and heartily joined in the hymns and responses.  Following a sermon a small statue of the Virgin Mary, followed by most of the congregation, still heartily singing, and small silver band processed around the local streets, including a small section of Oxford Street.

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