Churches together
Reporter: DAWN ECKERSLEY; Pictures by DARREN ROBINSON
Date published: 08 June 2009
Crowds flock to watch Whit Walks parade
THOUSANDS of revellers basked in the June sunshine as they welcomed Whit Friday walkers to Uppermill.
Adults and children lined the streets to watch brass bands herald the arrival of congregation members from churches in Lydgate, Friezland, Diggle and Dobcross, each marching with colourful banners declaring their identity.
Kiln Green Church and the Wrigley Mill Methodist Church, from Diggle, stopped for a mini service outside the Hanging Gate pub, in Huddersfield Road, before marching on to Uppermill.
Dobcross Community Church and the Holy Trinity Church also enjoyed an outdoor service before going back on parade to join other churches in Uppermill.
Friezland Christ Church and St Anne’s in Lydgate joined together to walk to Uppermill and St Chad’s and Sacred Heart in Uppermill held a mini service before joining the other churches.
Uppermill Methodist and Ebeneezer Congregational Church did a mini tour of the surrounding villages before coming back to the village to join the open-air service.
Brownies, guides, cubs, scouts and rainbows accompanied adults, rose queens and Sunday School members walked to rousing tunes and applause from members of the public.
When the parades were complete the groups marched on to the King George V Playing Fields in Uppermill for an uplifting service and hymns.
Children were invited on to the stage to sing the hymns and the crowd basked in the sunshine as they enjoyed readings by clergy from the various churches.
