Christians across North Herts and Central Beds marked Good Friday yesterday with open-air acts of witness in the streets of their respective towns.
Good Friday marks the crucifixion of Jesus in Jerusalem two millennia ago, with Easter Sunday celebrating his resurrection as described in the New Testament.
Hundreds of people turned out for Churches Together in Hitchin’s Walk of Witness from Bancroft park to the town centre, with a service at the end featuring the choir from St Mary’s Church.
Fr Tom O’Brien from Our Lady Catholic Church gave an address in which he recited Walter Wangerin, Jr’s Ragman – an allegorical retelling of the life of Christ.
In Stevenage, the Walk of Witness started from the Bowling Green at the north end of the Old Town and made its way through to the new town centre.
There was then open-air praise under the town’s distinctive clock, with hot cross buns handed out.
In Letchworth, about 150 people processed from Broadway Gardens through the town centre to Leys Square, where there were Easter hymns with the Salvation Army band.
Roger Adridge of the town’s Baptist church said: “We heard a moving account of how Jesus died and saw a dance representation of those events. We heard that, far from being remote and inaccessible, ‘God’s on the street – He’s a God you can meet.’”
Biggleswade’s Walk of Witness started at the Dan Albone car park off Shortmead Street and ended in Market Square, with the cross carried by Olu Osibowale.
There was then a Churches Together service led by Rev Guy Scott from St Andrew’s Church, with music and readings.
Potton Churches Together reported an attendance of about 80 for their Walk of Witness, from St Mary’s Church to the Salvation Army citadel – with Bob Smith and John Rosanski carrying the cross at the head of the long procession.
After a pause in Market Square for a hymn and prayer, there was what Dave Thompson from St Mary’s called a “very moving” service at the citadel, with words from Maj Diane Steadman of the Salvation Army, Rev Gill Smith and reader Simon Gutteridge.
In Sandy, the Walk of Witness started from the Methodist church in St Neots Road, and went through the town and Market Square to St Swithun’s Church. Hot cross buns and hot drinks were given out after the service.
The Knebworth Family of Churches’ Walk of Witness started at Trinity Church in Park Lane and ended at St Thomas More Catholic Church off London Road.
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