Banished to the vestry until Easter, statues large and small keep warm by the boiler

Good Friday and Holy Saturday 2012
The great journey of Holy Week nears its climax

On Good Friday morning, the platform and choir are bare and unadorned, but the veiled crucifix still hangs against the black curtains.
By 1.30 pm, the veiled crucifix has been taken down and lain before the font at the back of church.
During the solemn Good Friday liturgy, priest and servers carry it to the chancel. where it is erected between the choir stalls.
Here the congregation come up to venerate the revealed statue before the final recessional.
















On the morning of Holy Saturday, the Easter garden is created beneath the font, and the Stations of the Resurrection replace the Stations of the Cross around the church.
The Easter banners are hung on either side of the chancel screen, the Salviati reredos is opened, and Easter flowers adorn the church.
Then at the start of the Easter Vigil, the Paschal candle is lit from the new fire outside the church and lights spread throughout the church.
After the darkened candlelit vigil is ended and the resurrection noisily proclaimed, the Paschal candle is borne to the back of the church.
We gather round the font to renew our baptismal vows then, after the first mass of Easter, the traditional firework display lights up the church grounds.















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