A TRADITIONAL Bewdley event reflecting on the final days of Jesus’ life will return to the town during Easter.

Bewdley Passion has become a regular event in the town’s calendar since it began in 2013.

The 2018 Bewdley Passion programme – “At the Foot of the Cross” – will begin on Wednesday, March 28 in St. Anne’s Church with a Worcester Rep production of ‘Jesus My Boy’, featuring Bewdley’s own Jonathan Darby.

‘Jesus My Boy’ is an humorous one-man, one-act play, telling the story of Jesus as seen through the eyes of Joseph, an ordinary and down-to-earth man, dismayed about how his image is later portrayed in Christian art work.

On Good Friday (30th March), three activities will take place starting with the Bewdley Churches holding a united service in Jubilee Gardens at 1pm. This will recount the events leading up to the Crucifixion, each congregation telling a part of the story.

At 3pm, there will be a guided walk to the foot of the cross at Bewdley’s own Golgotha with a short service and meditation at the foot of the cross.

And the day will end with a choral performance of Stainer’s “Crucifixion” in St. Anne’s Church at 7.30pm with Musical Director Alastair Elliott, the Festival Voices & Friends, soloists Alan Fairs (Bass) and Wilhelm Theunissen (Tenor) and organist James Hickson.

Musical Director Alastair Elliott said: “Stainer’s music is unashamedly Victorian and certainly divides opinion, but contains some of the finest hymn tunes ever written, with moments of extreme beauty such as the motet “God So Loved the World”.

“If his ambition was to encourage people to gather together to recount and meditate on the Passion story, then I believe he succeeded completely.”

There is no admission charge to any of the events and for further information, contact Jim Ineson at 01299 405645 or jim.ineson@gmail.com.