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.
The Palm Sunday page
The Holy Tuesday page
The Maundy Thursday page
The Easter Day page
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