Good Friday, 14th April 2006, all 3 churches from Lyneham; St Michael and All Angels, St Andrew's and St Joseph's gathered in St Michael's Church for the start of the Walk of Witness.

The Easter acknowledgement is regarded as the most important events in christianity and the death and later resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Jewish prophet who Christians believe is the Son of God, and whose life and teachings are the foundation of Christianity.

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter, it commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion and is a day of mourning in church. During special Good Friday services Christians meditate on Jesus's suffering and death on the cross, and what this means for their faith.

"I am the resurrection and the life", said Jesus. "Those who believe in me will live, even though they die; and all those who live and believe in me will never die." (John 11:25)

Rev Anthony Fletcher welcomed everyone to this Annual Pilgrimage and then led the congregation into the hymn "There is a Green Hill Far Away". Jenny Barter followed with the first reading after which Rev Anthony Fletcher took up the Cross and proceeded out of the west door carrying the Cross as a sign of sacrifice, to the church car park and the many village worshippers followed.

"There is a green hill far away, outside a city wall, Where the dear Lord was crucified, who died to save us all." Cecil Frances Alexander

The Cross was handed over to the next person to carry to the next stop of the journey. Several readings were read on the way ending up at St Andrew's Church. Another Hymn was sang after the reading read by the Rev Shanks (Methodist Minster), again the cross was born out of the church on route to St Joseph's, children from the churches carried the cross into St Joseph's, where the ninth reading was read and then the final journey to St Michael's for the last reading and then everyone enjoyed Hot Cross Buns in the Church Hall.

"In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine a wondrous beauty I see;
For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died to pardon and sanctify me.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross' till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown." George Bennard

More and more people are returning to the church, in a modern world that is full of atrocities and unflavoured behaviour. We have witnessed the many innocent lives lost on September 11th at the Twin Towers, the Asian Tsunami of Boxing Day 2004, the tragic loss more closer to home with the 'Hilton 22' Hercules crew where ten airmen (eight from RAF Lyneham) were shot down in Iraq on 30th January 2005. These incidents have made more people turn to the church in prayer for the grieving and hope that the changing world would reverse to a more humane lifestyle. The church door is always open.

Special thanks to Babs Taylor for the background information and images.