Hundreds step out for Easter marches (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Hundreds step out for Easter marches

30353-2PROCESSIONS took place across west Wiltshire on Good Friday in a bid to demonstrate the true meaning of Easter.

Christians joined together in west and north Wiltshire towns for events demonstrating why they believe the Easter story is such good news.

In Trowbridge 300 people took part in a march that went from the Town Bridge to St James's Church through Fore Street. Margaret Howard, chairman of Trowbridge Area Churches Together, said: "It was a march of witness and we do want people to recall what Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, is all about. It is at the centre of the faith of Christians, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"There is a great deal of publicity about the more secular side such as the eggs and bunnies so it's good just to remind people that Easter is a Christian festival."

The march stopped at various stages on its route where different Trowbridge churches were responsible for readings, prayers, announcing the hymns and carrying the cross.

Mrs Howard paid particular tribute to Trowbridge Youth Band, which was put through its paces by a trainee conductor. She said: "They come out every year for us and do us proud. The band keeps us together."

In Warminster, the procession went from The Athenaeum to the Three Horseshoes Mall after stopping at St Laurence Chapel in the Market Place.

Stephen Morgan, chairman of Warminster Churches Together organised the march and was delighted with a turnout of more than 160 people. He said: "We have had a walk of witness in Warminster for the past 15 or 16 years.

"This year we took a different route and stopped off a couple of times on the way to reflect on Jesus' life, crucifixion and resurrection.

"All the churches from Warminster were there, led by mine, St George's Catholic Church."

In Melksham, Christians performed a series of street dramas at different town centre locations to illustrate the Easter story, including Sainsbury's in Bath Road, the Avon Place Precinct and outside the town hall.

Chairman the Rev Michael Jones said: "We walked to the sound of the beat of the drum. There was a good response, there were probably about 80 people in the Market Place."

Westbury Churches Together staged a walk of witness in the High Street, which started at 10.15am on Friday. This was followed by a united service at West End Baptist Church at 11am.

In Bradford on Avon Christians met at Westbury Gardens to march steadily up the hill to Christ Church. Members of many of the different churches in the town took part in the Follow the Cross procession.

More than 350 people took part in the Chippenham Churches Together, march of witness from Monkton Park Methodist Church to St Andrew's Church.