Reality with Passion

Good Friday 08

‘REALITY WITH PASSION’

Event: Good Friday “Crucifixion on Victoria Street.”

Following the success of previous years, up to 2,000 people are expected to gather for the traditional Good Friday Ecumenical procession on Victoria Street on March 21st.  This is an annual event that is jointly sponsored by Methodist Central Hall, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral. 

One of the speakers this year is Andrew Graystone, Director of the Churches’ Media Council.  He will make mention of ‘The Passion’ which BBC1 will broadcast during Holy Week and promises to be a dramatic re-telling of the last days of Jesus and viewed by many millions of people.  Mr Graystone said, ‘Day by day TV presents us with a confusing mass of stories.  But on this Good Friday TV presents us with the one story that has the power to make sense of our lives.  Now that’s what I call Reality TV.’

People will gather at 11.45am outside Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, and The Lord Mayor of Westminster will greets the ministers, participants, and musicians. The Reverend Tony Miles (Media Chaplain), Methodist Central Hall, will then welcome everybody and introduce the Procession, which begins after Big Ben is struck at noon. 

A meditation will be given by the Reverend Dr Nicholas Sagovsky, Canon of Westminster. The Procession, which will be headed by a large cross carried by people from The Passage Day/Night centre for the homeless, and accompanied by Sister Ellen Flynn DC, will then move down Victoria Street to the sound of drum beats provided by children from St. Vincent de Paul Primary School, Victoria.

The participants then gather at Westminster Cathedral, where a meditation will be given by the Reverend Martin Turner, Superintendent Minister, Methodist Central Hall, and a Reflection on Peace will be given by His Eminence Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster. Prayers for peace will also be led by Monsignor Mark Langham, Administrator, Westminster Cathedral. A collection is taken outside Westminster Cathedral to support the work of The Passage.

The Procession then returns along Victoria Street and into Westminster Abbey, where a meditation will be given by Andrew Graystone, Director of the Churches’ Media Council, and The Senior Gospel Choir from The Grey Coat Hospital will also sing.  The event concludes in silence around 13.30.

For further information, please contact:

020 7654 3809   (Church Office, Methodist Central Hall.)

020 7222 5152   (Westminster Abbey.)

020 7798 9055   (Westminster Cathedral.)