For thirty-two years Trinity Episcopal Church has been the starting point for a Palm Sunday procession through the streets of Staunton.
This inter-denominational procession originated in 1988, when St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church was undergoing large-scale renovations and the Vestry of Trinity invited them to use McCracken Hall for their Sunday services.
By Palm Sunday 1989, St. Francis’ church renovations were complete and John Lane, the Rector of Trinity at the time, suggested that the Trinity choir and congregation should escort the people and clergy of St. Francis from Trinity to St. Francis as a form of the Palm Sunday Procession (which typically had only circled the church building.)
Local musicians organized by Jim Harrington provided the music as parishioners from both churches processed through town.
The Prayer Book Blessing of the Palms was used, with the Rev. H.G.D. Dodge, the Pastor of St. Francis, taking part along with acolytes and people from both churches.
On arrival at St. Francis, Fr. Dodge thanked the congregation and we joined in singing “The Lord of the Dance” before parting ways.
Since then, many downtown churches have been invited to join in this procession, but the route and the hymn at St. Francis have always been a part of it.
The Parade This Year
For the past two years the downtown procession was suspended due to COVID. But we are all so pleased to return to this meaningful Staunton tradition again this year. Here’s the schedule for Sunday, April 10, 2022, the Sunday of the Passion.
Trinity will hold our regular Rite I Holy Eucharist Service at 8am. Sunday School classes are not being held on Palm Sunday.
At 10:15am parishioners from Trinity, St. Francis, Central United Methodist Church, Emmanuel Episcopal, and possibly others, with meet at Trinity in front of the church doors to begin the procession. (Come as early as 10am to begin gathering.)
All are welcome to join in this vibrant demonstration of Christian unity in the streets of downtown Staunton. At 10:15 we’ll head down Beverley St. through downtown, and then up N. Augusta to St. Francis. We’ll then pass by Emmanuel on Frederick Street on the return to Trinity.
Here is a link to a Facebook event for the parade — please share with others!
The Palm Sunday worship service will begin at approximately 11am (though we ask for your patience given the logistics of parading as a group). We hope you’ll come!
— By Lundy H. Pentz, Lay Eucharistic Minister, Trinity Episcopal Church of Staunton
Lundy Pentz bio: I came to Staunton in 1980 to teach biology at Mary Baldwin College and made Trinity my church home. I serve as lay eucharistic minister, on the worship committee, and in teaching, and among my hobbies, make church incense.
