Hundreds of people are expected to take part in a number of traditional Good Friday services this week, organised by the Sunday School Union.
In South Shields there will be three Processions of Witness on Friday, 25 March. One parade will leave Harton Lane at 9.30am, collecting the Talbot Road Methodist Church procession on Westcott Road, before progressing along Ashley Road and Stanhope Road to West Park for a service at 10am. Following the service at 10.30am, the groups will be dismissed and return to their respective churches by the same route.
The second group of marchers at Horsley Hill from Marsden Road Baptist Tabernacle at 9.30am and make their way to Harton Infant School in East Avenue, via Barbour Avenue, Felton Avenue and Centenary Avenue for a10am service. Following the service, the parade will return to Marsden Road by the same route.
The South Shields march will congregate at 9am at Laygate before making its ways along Westoe Road, past South Shields town hall onto Fowler street and onto Kepple Street where the parade will be joined by marchers from The People’s Mission Church who will arrive via Mile End Road. The combined parade will then continue to South Shields Market square for a service at 10am. Following the service at about 10.30am, the parades will return via the same routes.
The Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor Richard Porthouse and his wife Patricia will attend the service at the Market Place in South Shields at 10am before heading to the West Park bandstand for 10.20am.
The Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, Councillors Alan and Moira Smith, will attend a service at Jarrow Shopping centre (near the wooden hut) at 10.30am followed by a service at Christ Church at 11am.
A series of road closures will be in place throughout the morning to accommodate the processions. Drivers are advised to follow the diversions.