Christ
in the Centre - LEICESTER
The annual Christian Good Friday Pageant in the Heart of Leicester
(Click on underlined words for
links to other pages)
Background - when this festival started and details of previous years
The first event in 2003, organised through Churches Together in Leicester City Centre (CTLCC), a group of City Churches, together with the Leicester Market Traders, included a re-enactment of the arrest, trial, mocking and crucifixion of Jesus by SWORD, the Christian drama company based at St. Wilfrid's Church in Kibworth. It took place in Leicester City outside the Town Hall, with Jesus dragging a cross along Gallowtree Gate before finally ending at the Market Place for the crucifixion scene. The drama was followed by a time of worship and a short address by the Bishop of Leicester. Over three thousand people came to watch and many photographs were taken. A selection of photographs from the 2003 drama can be seen by clicking here.
The second Christ in the Centre event, again organised by CTLCC, was held on Good Friday, 9th April 2004, starting this time at Leicester Cathedral with a procession led by Jesus with a donkey (i.e. Palm Sunday). Photos from 2004 can be seen here together with an article. The third production in 2005 was on 25th March 2005 - click here to see photos of the actual event performed in front of several thousand spectators. The fourth 2006 pageant on 14th April 2006 saw even larger crowds; estimated for the crucifixion and resurrection at some 8,000. Click here to see photos of the performances on the four stages. See also comments by people regarding the previous productions.
Good Friday 2007 was 6th April and the fifth year of the production drew even bigger crowds. 2007 brochure available to view here. See here for overview and photographs from the 2007 event (Leicester Cathedral, Town Hall Square, Humberstone Gate and the processions, plus additional Palm Sunday procession with a donkey). After the event an artist, Eli Agayev, contacted the event organisers because he wished to donate a painting - read moving story here.
Christ in the Centre
is a Registered Charity No. 1111310
Registered
Office:
10 Station Street, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire LE8 0LN