Holy Week observations began with a lay led service in St Michael’s church, Shap where worshippers were welcomed by Sheila Parsons. During the first hymn everyone processed around the church and received a palm cross. A lesson from the Old Testament lesson was read by Phyllis Brown, and one from the New Testament by Dorothy McColm. 

The Sermon was replaced by a dramatic reading of the Passion narrative from St Mark’s Gospel; those taking part were: Elaine Allison, Ian McColm, Janet Wood, Elsie Davidson, Sheila Parsons, Henry Elphinstone, Phyllis Brown, Adele Kirkby, Molly Woof, Emma Atkinson, Dorothy McColm, Freda Cowin, Liz Kerrey and Jean Scott-Smith. Prayers were led by Professor McColm, and the organist was Janet Wood.

On Maundy Thursday church members from Shap and Bampton gathered in Bampton church hall for a Passover service led by Revd Christopher Jenkins, this explored Christianity’s the Jewish roots and incorporated a celebration of Communion, readers taking part were Morag Lloyd, Mary Jenkins, Neil Hughes, Revd Martin Dew, Liz Hall, Jean Scott-Smith, Janice Leedam, Tony Hall, Wendy Fairer, Diana Nicholson. The meal which had been prepared and served by the women of Bampton, included Parsley dipped in salt water representing tears; matzot, the bread of affliction, bitter herbs for slavery,  haroseth for the sweetness of freedom, and cups of wine representing holiness, instruction, blessing and Elijah.  There were hymns with Hebrew origins and melodies, and circle dancing.  Following the meal, there were ceremonies of stripping the altars at both churches and at Shap there was a vigil until midnight. 

On Good Friday around 40 people of all ages from churches in the parish group gathered in St. Michael’s church, Shap for a short act of worship before setting out on their annual walk of witness with readings and meditations based on the Stations of the Cross.  The journey began at noon with a meditation about Jesus’ condemnation led by Brian Lock and one describing Jesus receiving His cross by Alison Mott; the meditation were all led by Revd Martin Dew, and the accompanying prayers by Mrs Lock.  Following the singing of Trust and Obey, the walk then set out for Shap Abbey with a halt on the way for the mediation ‘Jesus falls for the first time’ led by Molly Woof and Rachel Wood.

At Shap Abbey within the shelter of the tower walls further meditations were led by Revd Christopher Jenkins (Jesus meets His mother), Mary Jenkins (Simon carries His cross), Jean Scott-Smith (Veronica wipes Jesus’ face), the group then sang There is a green hill, and there was a pause for picnic lunches to be enjoyed. When the group reformed the meditation ‘Jesus falls for a second time’ was read by Doreen Lee. 
The journey continued across the fields to Keld with a stop to allow the young people to roll pace eggs, there was also a halt for a mediation describing Jesus meeting the women of Jerusalem read by Anne Richardson.  At Keld Chapel Hot Cross Buns made by Derrick Newsome were served with mugs of tea by the Taylor family.  There followed a meditation about Jesus falling for a third time led by Dennis Hale. The hymn Take up thy cross was sung and another meditation ‘Jesus was stripped’, led by Wendy Fairer and Katie Hale sang a verse of Were you there when they crucified my Lord.

The final stage took the group over the fields back to Shap with a halt for the meditation on Jesus being nailed to the cross, read by Elsie Davidson. Back in St. Michael’s, the meditation Jesus dies on the cross was led by Ian Elliott and that on Jesus being taken down from the cross by Ronnie Elliott. Following the hymn When I survey the Wondrous Cross, Mrs Lock read the meditation about Jesus being placed in the tomb, and the stone was placed in front of the tomb on the Easter garden. The organist in St. Michael’s was Janet Wood.

 On Easter Eve a service of light was led by Revd Martin Dew; the Easter fire was kindled outside the church and the new Easter candle was lit and carried into the darkened church. At the end of the service, Molly Woof rolled the stone away from the tomb.
On Easter Day the church was decorated with spring flowers for worship led by Revd Beverley Lock.  Passages from the Bible were read by Sheila Parsons and Janet Wood, prayers were led by Elsie Davidson and the organist was Mrs Wood.  

Before here sermon Mrs Lock invited the children in church to search for chocolate eggs. She then went on to say Easter was about finding things, referring to early explorers who set out for the west looking for India, but finding America; each explorer drawing a map of the part they had discovered, only when they were all put together did a proper picture emerge. A Danish philosopher wrote that we live our lives forward, but we understand more when we look back.  The women and disciples on that first Easter Day discovered an empty tomb, but they did not understand its significance; only later were they able to look back and make sense of the events.  She ended by saying that Jesus the risen Lord is there for all to discover.

The service concluded with a celebration of the Eucharist by Mrs Lock assisted by Ms Fairer, and as everyone left church they received an Easter card and chocolate egg.