Whit Friday returns to Saddleworth on Friday, May 20.
In the morning, churches will hold short services before their Walk of Witness:
Delph – Service in St. Thomas’s at 9.30am. Process around the Village at 10am ending with a service in the centre outside The Swan at 11.30am.
Denshaw – Procession will form at church at 9.45am for 10am start. Walk round the village, singing hymns at various points, with guests ‘Brass Band Dietwil’ from Switzerland.
Diggle – Service outside Hanging Gate at 10am. Process to King George Playing Field, Uppermill for joint service at 11am.
Dobcross – Short service in the Square at 10am. Process to King George Playing Field, Uppermill for joint service at 11am.
Friezland – Prayers at 9.45am. Process to King George Playing Field, Uppermill for joint service at 11am.
Greenfield – Service at St. Mary’s 9.15am. Process to Road End for joint service with Greenfield Methodist.
Lydgate – Meet at Christ Church Friezland at 9.45am
Uppermill – St Chad and Sacred Heart meet for short service at 9.45am at St Chad then process to King George Playing Field, Uppermill for joint service at 11am.
Uppermill – Uppermill Methodist and Ebenezer meet at School Street at 9am. Process to King George Playing Field, Uppermill for United Church Service at 11am.
Families are invited to a ’Whit Walk with Tiddlers’ as part of the Uppermill Methodist Church procession, followed by traditional lunch in the Upper Hall.
Then in the evening, the busy band contests return to the villages. Please look out for road closures around the area.
Delph: Band march down the main street to contest area
Denshaw: Bands perform at contest area opposite Oddfellows on Huddersfield Road
Diggle: Bands perform at contest area at corner of Huddersfield Road and Sam Road
Dobcross: Bands march along Platt Lane to contest area at Church Fields
Friezland: Bands march along Oakloads Road to contest area at Christ Church Friezland Parish Hall
Greenfield: Bands march along Chew Valley Road to contest area at the playing fields
Grotton: Band march along Station Road to contest area Pavilion
Lydgate: Bands march down Stockport Road to contest area at White Hart Inn
Lees and Springhead: Bands march along High Street to contest area at the library
Scouthead and Austerlands: Bands march from Three Crowns Inn to contest area at Dawson’s Field
Uppermill: Bands march from Saddleworth Museum to contest area at King George V playing field
