A HUGE crowd gathered this morning in Cirencester Market Place to watch a Good Friday re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus.

Starting from the Ashcroft Church, ‘Jesus’ – played by amateur actor Duncan Collins – carried a wooden cross through the town centre to the Parish Church.

He was followed by crowds of people, including Roman soldiers who mocked him along the way, as well as mourners and representatives from all of the churches in the town.

Matt Frost, senior pastor of Cirencester Baptist Church, in a short speech prior to the ‘crucifixion’, said: “It is a day when people around the world particularly remember that Jesus was crucified.

“We’re here together today from all the churches in Cirencester to remember to say thank you and to point people to Jesus.

“We’re going to sing, we’re going to pray, we’re going to tell the story of how Jesus was crucified for us and for the whole world.”

Matt then narrated the story of how Jesus came to be on the cross, before The Reverend Canon Leonard Doolan, vicar of the Parish Church, led the crowd in prayer.

With the Cirencester Salvation Army Band providing the music, several hymns were then sung, beginning with There is a Green Hill Far Away and followed by Amazing Grace.

Bob Morris, pastor at Cirencester Baptist Church, who played the part of Jesus in last year’s re-enactment, then spoke about the importance of Easter.

“Easter is not just about the eggs,” he said.

“It’s not just about a chocoholic bunny who went running around town.

“Easter is about the cruel cross. It’s about the six inch nails. But most significantly it is about an empty tomb.

“Because the tomb was empty, I am full of hope, and as Christians in Cirencester we have hope that this is not the end.”

He went on to say: “Long before Donald Trump wanted to build a wall between America and Mexico, mankind was building a wall between himself and God. The Bible calls that wall ‘sin’.

“It’s all the wrong things people have thought, said and done. The good news is, that God didn’t want to leave that wall there. His masterplan was Jesus.

“When Jesus was on that cross and it looked lost, actually he was winning for us a hope. The world needs hope. Jesus made is possible for us to be friends again with God.

“To destroy that wall of sin and bring us into a relationship with him.”

Free hot cross buns were then handed out by volunteers.