Whanganui's Christian faithful make Easter Pilgrimage

Whanganui's Archdeacon Stuart Goodin leads the Easter Pilgrimage, carrying a cross. Photo/ Stuart Munro Wanganui Chronicle

It was a subdued crowd that filed through Whanganui East streets on Good Friday morning, on a pilgrimage to remember events two thousand years ago.

There were about 150 on the first leg, from St James Church in Boydfield St to All Saints in nearby Moana St. There Whanganui's Anglican Archdeacon Stuart Goodin prepared to tell the story of Jesus praying at Gethsemane before his arrest and trial.

The All Saints church is being used by a Fijian group, and Mr Goodin was standing in for its pastor, Iliesa Tamaniyaga, who was seriously ill in hospital. He asked everyone to hold the pastor in their hearts and prayers.

Children are asked to sit up front in All Saints Church to hear the Easter story. Photo/ Stuart Munro Wanganui Chronicle

Children were asked to come and sit up front, on the carpet, while Mr Goodin told the story.

"You will have to use your imaginations. We have no technology. You will have to use what God gave us in our heads," he said.

The pilgrimage was to continue to three other Whanganui East churches, and finish up back at St James with a cup of coffe and a hot cross bun for all the walkers.

The walk is a Whanganui East tradition that started in the early 1990s, and the crowd can number up to 300.