Laura Kochanski
Laura Kochanski
21 April, 2025
What's On

The Easter Experience is open at All Saints’ Church, New Longton

This Easter, we are sharing an interactive retelling of the Easter Story at All Saints’ church. Walk through five key holy week scenes, from Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem, to the empty tomb of his resurrection a week later. There will be lots to see, hear, and do along the way for all ages, bringing alive the epic events at the crux of history. Over 130 visitors have joined us so far, including the Bishop of Blackburn.

Bishop Philip and children during the scene of "The Last Supper"

We begin our story on Palm Sunday. As you approach the city gates of Jerusalem, meet a witness from the crowd of the time, who saw Jesus processing towards the city in a kingly manner, riding on a ... donkey.

Further on, you can enter the upper room where Jesus ate the last supper. One of the disciples can tell you about what happened, the precious words Jesus spoke as he gave a new significance to the bread and wine, and the rather mysterious departure of Judas... was he really just going to pay a bill?

From here you will enter the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus often took his disciples there, but that night there was anguish in his fervent prayer, as one of the disciples will explain. ‘Yet not my will but yours’ were words Jesus was heard praying (among others - our witness admits he fell asleep several times before being dramatically woken by Jesus’ sudden arrest and betrayal by a reoccurring face.)

A "witness" retelling what they saw in the Upper Room.
A "witness" retelling what they saw in the Upper Room. Credit: I.Hallam

Step outside and walk up to three crosses on the front lawn. As a solider will recall what happened after Jesus was found not guilty of wrongdoing, but handed over to be killed anyway, due to the threatening jeers of a mob crowd. Prophetic words, three hours of darkness, and a torn temple curtain - this was no ordinary execution.

It is time to visit the scene of the tomb. Mary Magdalene will be able to tell you how she watched as Jesus’ body was laid there on the Friday evening, and what she saw when she came back early on the Sunday morning to anoint his body with spices.

Rev’d Tom, the vicar of New Longton says:

The Bishop of Blackburn, the Right Rev Philip North and Rev'd Tom Woolford of All Saints' New Longton
The Bishop of Blackburn, the Right Rev Philip North and Rev'd Tom Woolford of All Saints' New Longton Credit: I.Hallam

“We have some brilliantly creative and imaginative congregation members in New Longton - and off the back of the Narnia event we ran 18 months ago, we got excited about sharing the story at the heart of our faith in a fresh and interactive way with our parishioners and other visitors. People of all ages have found it moving and powerful. We’re delighted with the reception it’s had.”

The Easter Experience is open to the public each day, until Easter Monday from 12 until 2pm. The event is completely free, and you don't need to book in advance.

3 Crosses on the lawn, at the scene of the cruxifiction
3 Crosses on the lawn, at the scene of the cruxifiction Credit: L.Kochanski

After this, we will be welcoming over 200 children from our local schools to take part in the interactive experience.

An angel sits at the resurection scene
An angel sits at the resurection scene Credit: J.Woolford