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Sutton Heritage Society Whit Walk - Part Two

On the day, everyone dressed in their smart new clothes. Most were wearing bonnets or hats. Children would go to their Sunday Schools. The respective Choirs would be there dressed in their choral robes. The Clergy, the Vergers, Churchwardens, Sunday School Teachers, Children, and Adult Congregation would all take part.

Among the Churches involved would be Chatsworth St; St Bartholomew’s, Congregational Churc, Forest Side Methodists, Leamington Drive Church, New Cross Methodists, Outram St Methodists, Priestsic Road Methodists, Reorganised Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Salvation Army, St John’s Churc, St Joseph’s Church, St Mark’s Church, St Mary’s Church, St Michael’s Church, St Modwen’s Church, United Reformed Church, Victoria Street Baptists, and Zion Baptists.

Typically held yearly in late May or early June, Sutton held its own Whit Walk, with Huthwaite and Skegby Churches each having their own separate gatherings.

People would line up outside their respective Churches. At the front of each Church Procession, their unique processional banner was held high, ready for leading the march round the streets. In front of the procession, a uniformed Brass Band. Lyres attached to the instruments held the music which they would need.

Sunday School Teachers watched over the younger children. Some children carried flower baskets or flowers on streamers. Sometimes, ribbons or ropes were placed at the side of the youngsters which they could hold on to as they were walking. They lined up in pairs close to the front of the parade. Following behind them were teenagers, and finally adults. St Johns Ambulance Brigade were there, often kept busy with people fainting in the heat. Marshalls walked alongside and looked for any problems.

One procession would start from the bottom end of the town, Outram Street area, and the other at the opposite side of the town, usually St Marys.

The Brass Bands played as they were walking along the streets, and as they met with another Church Procession, they would join together in sequence.

The roads around the Old Market Place would fill with spectators long before the processions reached there, although some people would walk alongside them as they made their way towards the Market Place. It was an occasion all looked forward to.

Known as the Walk of Witness, it is thought that the idea was brought back to Sutton by William Bonser around 1840, after he had seen it happen while on a visit to Manchester.

The Police co-ordinated both processions to make sure they arrived together, although sometimes it meant holding one side back to wait for the other to catch up. The columns filed on to the Market Place in rows, and waited for everyone to get into place. Banners were leaned against a wall in the Market Square. The platform was waiting for the officials to arrive.

The Market Place was packed to capacity and spectators were looking from windows and balconies, as well as covering the pavements around the area.

Hymn sheets were given out, and collecting tins were rattled. The Clergy mounted the podium, the Conductor was in place, and the Band got ready to play.

As the service began, the Ministers took turns introducing the hymns, and of course the National Anthem. The crowd joined in enthusiastically with the singing, accompanied by one of the bands.

Afterwards they walked via King Street, Woods Hill and Low Street back to their Church Halls/Sunday Schools where they received a Whitsuntide bun.

When the collection tins were gathered and money counted, after the costs were taken out the remaining donations went to a charity like Save the Children Fund.

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