Southwell’s seven churches join together for Palm Sunday service, and a procession led by donkeys

A town’s churches came together to mark Palm Sunday, with more than 250 people joining the procession.

The combined clergy, choristers and congregations of Southwell Minster, Our Lady of Victories Roman Catholic Church, the Methodist and Baptist churches, the Living Waters Fellowship, Riverside Church, and Holy Trinity Church took part in the religious event yesterday (April 13).

It marked Jesus' entry into Jerusalem a week before Easter.

Members of all seven of the town’s churches assembled at Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church, on Halam Road, where the palms were blessed by the Reverend Matthias Ejukwe, before processing through the town centre to the Minster, led by two donkeys.

The donkeys, Jay Jay and Dorothy, were guided by staff from the Nottingham Trent University’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences at Brackenhurst.

A special joint service was held in the town’s cathedral, led by the Interim Dean of Southwell, the Reverend Canon Dr Neil Evans; together with the Deacon, Reverend Dr Richard Frith; the Sub-Dean, Reverend Amanda Lees; and Reverend Matthias Ejukwe.

The lesson was read by Jenny Harris from the Baptist Church, while the cathedral choir was directed by Paul Provost, Rector Chori, accompanied by organist Jonathan Allsopp, assistant director of music.