Churches Together in Stroud organised the annual Easter procession around the town this morning, starting at the top of the High Street and enjoying warm, sunny weather.
“It’s the Stroud Walk of Witness – we do it every Good Friday – we’ve been doing it for years and years, ever since I’ve been in Stroud, which is more than 40 years,” said Phil Coysh, Deputy Chair of Churches Together in Stroud.
Denominations taking part included Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, Stroud Christian Fellowship, and the United Reformed Church as well as The Salvation Army.
Following a reading, prayer and hymn singing the procession, led by John Colby from Stroud Methodist Church carrying the Cross, walked to the entrance to Five Valleys in King Street where the song Be Still and Know that I am God was sung, before moving to the Sub Rooms Forecourt where Rev Steve Thomson spoke. The cross was carried by a different person after each pause.
For the first time the procession ended inside St Laurence Church: “We used to finish on the Sub Rooms forecourt but then we brought the Cross to the churchyard last time, now we’ve moved in here [St Laurence],” said Mr Coysh.
“It’s such a good atmosphere and people are creating a community together. It’s great. I think around 150 people took part – it’s always special when churches from different denominations come together and do something together, and that’s what Good Friday’s Walk of Witness is all about,” he added.
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