GALLERY - Cold wind couldn't daunt Good Friday spirit

The fourth annual Good Friday Walk For Christ, organised by Churches Together in Bexhill, came within an ace of equalling last year's 200-strong turn-out.

As members from every town denomination gathered in wind-swept Town Hall Square, the chairman of Churches Together In Bexhill, the Vicar of St Stephen's the Rev David Frost told the Observer: "It is very encouraging about the numbers considering the weather.

"They are here to share the Good Friday message with the people of the town."

He told walkers: "Welcome to our annual walk. It is really incredible to see so many people."

Leaflets given out to bystanders along the route from Town Hall Square to the Colonnade explained: "For Christians, the Cross is the symbol of our faith, because it was on a cross that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was put to death on the first Good Friday over 2,000 years ago."

After opening prayer, led by the chairman, Town Mayor Clllr Paul Lendon, a member of Christchurch Methodist Church, carried the cross at the head of the procession for the first leg of its journey.

The role was taken over by an Anglican member, then a Roman Catholic and finally by an Anglican priest.

Police and Churches Together stewards kept a watch on the Good Friday traffic as the procession made its way down Buckhurst Place, Sackville Road and Western Road to Devonshire Road.

There, the procession paused for the singing of There Is A Green Hill Far Away.

With the Churches Together banner bringing up the rear, the procession then proceeded along Endwell Road to Sea Road on its way to the Colonnade for the singing of When I Survey The Wondrous Cross and a final prayer.

A united services afterwards in Sackville Road Methodist Church was conducted jointly by the Rev Brian Bowyer of Bexhill United Reformed Church and Methodists the Rev Stephen Maunder and the Rev Roger Leslie.