LOCAL Christians were joined by the Bishop of Monmouth, Rt Rev Cherry Vann as they marked the start of Holy Week with a procession through Chepstow. The procession remembers the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem riding a donkey as crowds waved palms.

Around 150 people took part in Sunday’s (April 2) procession which was organised by St Mary’s Church and Chepstow Methodist.

At its head were two donkeys, Apple and Blackberry, owned by Mrs Avis Hughes of Newchurch,

Children from The Dell Primary School waved palms that they had made.

The procession started at the Methodist Church in Albion Square and made its way down the High Street to St Mary’s.

The service at the parish church included  a dramatisation of the story of Christ’s Passion as told in the Gospel of St Matthew.

Vicar of Chepstow Rev Philip Averay said it had been a very successful event.

He said: “It was a joint venture between us and the Methodist Church.

“It’s the first time we’ve done during my tenure which is coming on six years.

“We had planned to do it at Easter 2020 but that had to be postponed (because of Covid).

“We had a dramatisation of the Passion from Matthew in the church and afterwards people stayed and chatted over coffee.

“We are planning to do it again next year.”

Rev Cherry has spent Holy Week in the local ministry which includes  Chepstow and the surrounding villages.

She has given reflections at Shirenewton, St Mary’s, St Arvans, Mathern and St Pierre.”

Pictures by John Burrows.