CHRISTIANS in Coleford came together on Good Friday (March 29) for the annual ‘walk of witness’ as the faithful across the Forest marked the most important festival in the Christian calendar.

It saw Christians from various denominations gather outside St Mary Margaret Roman Catholic Church in High Nash from where a cross was carried to the clock tower in the town centre.

The cross was carried by Tony Howarth who worships at Coleford Baptist Church.

He said: “Carrying this was very emotional, very moving.”

An outdoor service was held at the clock tower with a reading of the Easter story of Christ’s Passion and hymns accompanied by music from Monmouth Town Band.

The readings were from the Gospel of St Mark and were read by Trevor Beckett, Nigel Bishop, Beverley Chisholm and Wendy Williams.

Rev Sarah Bick of the Anglican Mid Wyedean Churches said: “It is an annual event.

“We gather as the different denominations of Christians throughout Coleford and we choose a place to gather.

This year it was St Margaret Mary the Roman Catholic Church and we walk down the road and do an act of worship where we hear the story of Good Friday and we look forward to the Resurrection story on Easter Sunday.”

As well as Anglicans and Catholics, Pentecostals from Mount of Olives Church, Methodists and Baptists took part.

Around 50 people attended the clock tower service and afterwards they were invited to Coleford Baptist Church for hot cross buns.

The previous evening, Maunday Thursday, there was an ecumenical supper organised by Coleford Anglicans at the town’s Baptist church while at St Mary’s Church in Lydney there was a celebration of the Last Supper with the washing of feet.

There was also a Maunday Thursday meal and service at St Stephen’s Anglican Church in Cinderford. The church also livestreamed some of its Easter services on the internet.

There were many Easter Sunday celebrations across the Forest including a 6am Sunrise Service on May Hill led by the Young Adults Ministry Group from St Mary’s Church in Newent.