BLUE skies and warm spring sunshine greeted worshippers for the annual Walk of Witness in Barnard Castle as more than 50 people gathered to commemorate Good Friday.
The procession assembled at the Startforth side of Green Bridge and following a reading from Luke 23:1-13 by Elizabeth Conran crossed the bridge and proceeded up Thorngate to St Mary’s Church and then on to the final destination at Scar Top close to Barnard Castle Methodist church.
First to carry the cross this year was local stonewaller, Adam Nicholson who said: “I am proud to be part the procession this year. It is important for the town to commemorate Easter.”
Led by Revd Canon Alec Harding, hymns such as There is a Green Hill Far Away and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross were sung, with Barnard Castle Band providing the musical accompaniment.
Bible readings about the crucifixion and death were read out at each stopping point. As the procession made its way through the town members of the congregation from the Methodist Church handed out hot cross buns to shoppers and tourists alike.
Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday as a reminder of the crucifixion.
Methodist superintendent minister Revd Bev Hollings said: “It is important that Good Friday is marked in the town. It is pleasing that so many people have turned out today.”
Following The Walk of Witness worshippers were treated to some well-earned refreshments at the Methodist Church.
At Toft Hill, churches and residents joined together for the annual Good Friday Walk of Witness through the village and neighbouring Etherley. The event, which has been held for 30 years, was led by Revd Canon Trevor Pitt. Prayers were offered at various locations en route including at Toft Hill Primary School, the doctors surgery and outside each church before those taking part enjoyed refreshments in Low Etherley.
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
