Minister’s unique Easter message

Rev John Rosedale

A crusading church minister has created a colourful reminder to embrace the Easter message even though the community remains in lockdown because of the coronavirus.

Delph is famous across the Saddleworth community for its distinctive 10ft high wooden crosses erected at Knott Hill around Palm Sunday each year.

Their poignancy was heightened last year when photographs taken at the height of moorland fires showed them etched defiantly against the skyline.

After the crosses survived the moorland blazes, it became known at the church’s “Notre Dame” moment because of the undamaged cross  in the horrific fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.  

Rev John Rosedale, Saddleworth Team Vicar, said: “The virus warnings came as plans were bring made for the crosses to be transported and a team put together to erect them at the site. 

“However, we were overtaken by events which included the social distancing,” he explained. “As regulations took hold, villagers responded in different ways.

“Rainbows have been put into windows, painted stones with little messages and uplifting one liners are appearing throughout the village and on footpaths in the countryside. 

“But no crosses on the hill...

“I had the idea of bringing two Bible promises together: the promise God would never destroy the earth again (the rainbow) and eternal life through Jesus Christ who rose from the dead (the cross).”

He added: “ I’ve previously used the cross for some of my schools work but it was especially painted white to give it some weather proofing and to help it stand out. 

“The cross is visible from Delph Lane and is on the vicarage wall at CoblersHill where usually our scarecrow goes for the Delph Donkey Scarecrow Trail.”

And posts on social media offer encouraging remarks supporting his novel  idea.

One said: “ I’m not religious at all but there is something symbolic about those crosses up there, tradition is important and we need to go back to those values right now. Thank you for cheering me up... it means so much to me.”

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