Sawston’s Good Friday Walk of Witness

On Good Friday 2025, the Christian community of Sawston once again came together in a beautiful display of faith and fellowship for the annual Walk of Witness. Andrew Xuereb-George reports. 

This cherished tradition is one of several ecumenical events held in the village, uniting the three local churches – Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, St Mary’s Church, and the Free Church – in a public act of devotion and solidarity.

We began the walk at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, gathering quietly in reflection as we prepared to mark this most solemn day in the Christian calendar. Reverend Phil from the Free Church thoughtfully assigned roles to various participants, including carrying the Cross and reading scripture at each stop. My brother Michael and I, along with several other children from our parish, were delighted to be chosen as distributors of crème eggs and leaflets explaining the significance of Holy Week.

With everyone’s roles in place, we set off on our journey. Our first stop was St Mary’s Church, where we paused to sing a hymn and listen to a reading from the Bible. Afterwards, we had the joyful task of offering crème eggs and pamphlets to passers-by who showed an interest in the procession. Their reactions were heart-warming – many smiled with surprise and appreciation as they received the treats. It was a moving moment to see how such a simple gesture could bring light to someone’s day and open a doorway to share the Easter message.

Our second stop was outside the village hardware shop. There, we sang another hymn and heard a further reading from scripture before stepping inside to offer eggs and leaflets to the shopkeepers and customers. People were touched by the gesture, and we had several lovely conversations. One elderly lady told me, with a broad smile, “That’s the first time this has ever happened to me.” Others, politely refusing the chocolate due to dietary reasons, were nonetheless happy to receive the leaflet – with my brother cheerfully reminding them, “No calories in this!”

Throughout the walk, we stopped at several more locations around the village. Each stop featured a Bible reading and a moment of prayerful reflection, helping us trace Christ’s journey from Palm Sunday to the Resurrection. These reflections reminded us of Easter’s profound meaning and the call to reach out to others with compassion.

We ended our journey at the Free Church, where we sang a final hymn and offered prayers for those carrying burdens of grief, worry, or loneliness. Father John of Our Lady of Lourdes delivered a touching message, encouraging us to carry the light of hope into our community, especially to those suffering in silence.

The walk concluded with a warm welcome in the church hall, where volunteers served freshly baked hot cross buns and much-appreciated refreshments. It was a fitting end to a day filled with faith, kindness, and community spirit.

I was deeply moved by how the churches of Sawston came together to make this event so meaningful. In walking side by side, sharing prayers and smiles, we bore witness to something truly powerful: the light of Christ, alive and shining through each one of us.

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