THOSE WHO MET HIM THERE

A guided devotional meditation

THIS meditation is based on The Crucifixion Triptych by Rogier van der Weyden, a fifteenth-century painting depicting Christ on the cross and those who were present at his death. Works of this kind were used for private devotion, inviting sustained attention to the scene and to the figures within it.
The meditation is arranged in five sections, each focused on a figure in the painting. Each section includes a short reflection, a question for consideration, a period of silence, and a brief prayer.

This meditation was first delivered at St Michael and All Saints, Edinburgh, on Good Friday 2026 by the Revd Oliver Brewer-Lennon.

The Crucifixion Triptych

A high-resolution image of The Crucifixion Triptych is available on Google Arts & Culture, offering a level of detail that allows the painting to be examined closely. It can be zoomed in extensively and is the most suitable image to use alongside this meditation.

View the image on Google Arts & Culture. →

van der Weyden, Rogier. The Crucifixion Triptych, c. 1440–1445. Oil on oak panel. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.

AUDIO of the meditation

The recording is presented in eleven tracks and may be paused to allow time for reflection.

The audio below is embedded from an external site, which may set cookies and collect limited data about your interaction. You’ll have the option to load the player once or allow it to appear automatically in future. This setting can be changed at any time.

Mass Times

Sunday • 10:30 High Mass
A service with choral music, organ, incense, bells, and elaborate ritual Read more →

Wednesday • 11:00 Low Mass (Lady Chapel)

First Saturday of each month • 12:30 Rosary Mass

Celebrate

the Sacred Seasons

ST Michael and All Saints invites you to mark some of the most significant moments of the liturgical year with special services featuring glorious music from one of the finest choirs in the city, vibrant Anglo-Catholic liturgy, and preaching that speaks to the heart. Whether you’re a frequent attendee or joining for a special occasion, these events are sure to inspire.

Assumption

Sat 15 Aug • 16:30

One of the most widely observed festivals of the Blessed Virgin Mary around the world, kept in this corner of it with opulence and majesty. An enormously high Mass for for an enormously high feast.

St Michael

Tues 29 Sep • 19:30

Celestial music in honour of the commander of the heavenly armies, the patron saint of this church. The reception following this Evensong and Benediction is underwritten by the Choral Evensong Trust.

Advent Carols

Sun 29 Nov • 18:00

Advent begins with candlelight, choral music, and readings that hold the season’s sense of waiting and expectation.

Nine Lessons and Carols

Sun 20 Dec • 18:00

The service people mark well in advance in their diaries. Timeless carols and seasonal favourites gathered into one of the great traditions of Christmas.