Very early each Good Friday morning for the past 44 years Swimbridge people have carried a Cross from their Parish Church of St James up to the top of the hill which overlooks the village.
The pilgrimage begins and ends with a short service led by the rector Rev Peter Bowers, who said, “This act of witness was introduced by a former Swimbridge vicar Rev John Reed and has been carried on ever since as our witness in Swimbridge to the Easter story.” The old wooden cross stands at the top of Hooda Hill and is seen throughout Good Friday from the village and by passing motorists on the North Devon Link Road.
The event starts at the church on Good Friday 10 April at 7.30 am with a short service followed by the cross being carried from the church through the village, past the school and then by way of a steep track and across field to the top of Hooda.
Usually about 20 – 40 people help carry or follow the procession. After erecting the cross and a prayer and enjoying the fantastic views of the village and surrounding countryside everyone returns to the church for Hot Cross buns.
Anyone is welcome to join in. Be prepared for wet and maybe slippery ground.
For further details phone David Netherway on 830587 or Rev Peter Bowers on 830068.