Ripon in the Easter spotlight as our ancient city celebrates Christ’s resurrection
Ripon is at the centre of national, regional, local and online media coverage, as it gears up for a week of worship in the city’s fine churches ⛪.
Yesterday, people of many denominations congregated on Market Square for an ecumenical service followed by the spectacular traditional Palm Sunday Procession 🌿 around Ripon’s ancient streets, then along Kirkgate to our magnificent cathedral.
The medieval masterpiece — a site where worshippers have joined in prayer for 1354 years — will be in the national media spotlight again on Easter Sunday, when its 10am Festal Eucharist service is broadcast live on BBC TV 📺.
The broadcast on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer will be followed at 11am by coverage of Pope Leo XIV’s Easter Sunday blessing for the world from St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Ripon BID Manager Lilla Bathurst, who was present on Ripon Market Square yesterday morning for the Palm Sunday Service and procession, told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon blog:
“It’s fabulous to think that the Cathedral City to the Yorkshire Dales will be sharing BBC billing with Rome on Easter Sunday morning.”
She pointed out: “This gives Ripon an echo to the past and traditions and customs connected to our Patron Saint Wilfrid, who made three major visits to the Italian capital in the seventh century to solidify the union between the English Church and Roman Church.”
Lilla added: “While Easter is the foremost feast in the Christian calendar, it is also a vitally important time for businesses across the Ripon district, and the media exposure that we will receive over the coming days will be priceless, as it provides us with a platform to promote our superb cathedral and the city’s other incredible heritage attractions 🌟.”
GALLERY: Palm Sunday in Ripon 📸
(a selection of photographs taken by Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon blog at the Palm Sunday service and procession)
Dean John and Fr Jonathan Hart
Palm Sunday ecumenical service and procession around Market Square
The Procession enters the Cathedral
