Church communities are coming together across Bath and Wells to celebrate Holy Week and Easter.
On the Saturday before Palm Sunday, Churches Together for the Burnham and Highbridge Area erected three crosses on the top of Brent Knoll, in a long standing tradition that goes back in the region of 50 years. On Palm Sunday itself, the and the Parish of Three Saints held a service of Blessing for the crosses, which are approximately 5 metres high, with Revd Kevin Wright saying, "May they be to all who see them a symbol of Jesus' sacrifice and love for us."
He added, "They get a great reaction locally with church-goers and non-church goers alike saying how pleased they are to see them back up."
@BathWells #HolyWeek #PalmSunday pic.twitter.com/h6nKDcqSbl
— The Parish of Three Saints (@TPOTS6) April 2, 2023
On Monday of Holy Week Bishop Ruth preached at the Hydrographic Service at their Blessing of the Crosses.
A great way to start Holy Week at the Blessing of the Crosses on the hill overlooking Taunton @UKHO @BathWells Imagining ourselves in the shoes of one of those gathered at the foot of the cross on which Jesus died pic.twitter.com/tRPiHhHTW8
— Ruth Worsley (@Tauntonbish) April 3, 2023
At Wells Cathedral on Tuesday, 4 April Bishop Ruth will preside at the 10am Chrism Service. Bishop Michael will preach at the service.
On Thursday, 6 April Bishop Ruth will travel to preach at Truro Cathedral.
On Good Friday, Bishop Michael will be preaching at the Three Hours Devotion (Good Friday) at Wells Cathedral at 12pm.
On Easter Day, Bishop Michael is presiding and preaching at the Easter Day Eucharist (9:30am) at Wells Cathedral and Bishop Ruth is presiding and preaching at Taunton Minster at 10am.
At 3 pm on Good Friday Rev Lore Chumbley, Priest in charge Christ Church, Bath will be doing the BBC Radio 4 Good Friday reflection, The Wounded Surgeon. Lore who was a hand surgeon before her ordination to the priesthood, will talk about the imagery of God’s hand in the Bible. She talks with Dave Bell, a hand surgeon and former colleague, about the appeal of working with the hand, and the creative and saving hands of God. You can listen live at 3pm on BBC R4 or catch up later on BBC Sounds
Schools across Bath and Wells held their Easter celebrations before breaking up for the holidays.