London: Churches hold Palm Sunday service at Finsbury Park

In spite of squally rain and wind, a record number of parishioners from five churches turned out for the ninth Ecumenical Procession with a donkey and Blessing of Palms at the Manor House gates of Finsbury Park yesterday.

There was drumming and music from the Bema Dance Group as Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was re-enacted by more than 150 parishioners from St Thomas More Catholic Church, St Olave's, Woodbury Down, and St John the Evangelist, Brownswood Park Anglican Churches and the Methodist United Reform Church of Finsbury Park.

Fr Daniel Sandham introduced the service. Fr Clive Lee blessed the palms. Members of the Methodist Church proclaimed the Gospel and Fr Tunde Roberts gave the homily.

After the service, traffic came to a standstill as the crowd, escorted by the police officers, processed through the streets to each of their different churches, for their Palm Sunday celebrations.

This was second visit in the week by William the donkey from Bury St Edmunds. On Friday he took part in a Palm Sunday service at St Mary's Primary School in Tottenham, attended by children from Anglican, Catholic and Muslim schools.

One of the parents said: "We love to come to to this service. It really brings the Gospel story to life."