Honouring a tradition that began over 200 years ago, the Whit Walk processions—first held in 1801—celebrate the birthday of the Church and bring together Christians from across the region in a joyful expression of faith and community. Each year, crowds line the streets of Manchester City Centre to support the churches as they take part in this much-loved event.
Led by brass bands the procession makes its way from Manchester Cathedral along Deansgate to St Peter's Square. This vibrant and family-friendly event welcomes people of all ages to cheer on those walking, share in fellowship, and participate in a collective Act of Worship at St Peter’s Square. This year’s address will be given by the Revd Phil Cansdale, Director of Mission and Ministry.
To help mark the occasion and reflect on the meaning and heritage of the Whit Walks, we’ve also created a special film celebrating this enduring tradition. We invite you to watch, reflect, and share in the spirit of this remarkable event.
Bishop David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, attended his first Whit Walk as a small child. He said: “I must have gone on my own first Whit Walk before I was even out of my pram. The Walks remain an important event among the traditions of Manchester and its surrounds. I hope that many will join or watch them this year.”
Dean Rogers Govender, Manchester Cathedral said: “Last year’s Whit Walks were an absolute joy, with communities coming together to parade the city centre streets. The turnout was incredible, not only from the churches taking part but also the crowds who came out to show their support for this time-honoured tradition. We welcome families and individuals from across the borough to join us this Bank Holiday Monday to support this incredible day for all the community.”
Revd Canon Daniel Burton added: "We are thrilled that the Whit Walks continue. This is our day – an annual opportunity to celebrate our faith on the streets of Manchester and to affirm the huge contribution made by local churches to the civic life of Greater Manchester.”
 |
 |
 |
Join Us This Year!
The Manchester and Salford Whit Walks are returning to the city centre on Bank Holiday Monday, 26th May.
This year's schedule is as follows:
9.30am - Assemble in Cathedral Gardens (behind the Cathedral)
10.00am - Procession to St Peter’s Square via Deansgate
10.45am - Act of worship led by the Revd Phil Cansdale
11.30am - Return procession to Manchester Cathedral
Could your parish join us this year? Whether it means reviving a long-lost tradition or starting a new one, we invite you to be part of this special day. To register, please email Revd Caroline Hewitt.
You can download a promotional poster by clicking here.
If your parish is not taking part, please come along and support us by lining the streets and joining us at St Peter's Square!
Support the Walks by Donating
If you are able to support us by donating to our costs, this enables us to continue to run these walks.
Here are the 2023 costs:
- Traffic management £3,580
- Hire of sound system £818.40
- Technical support £240
- Insurance £173.61
Total = £4,290.01
The Whit Walk organising committee is raising money for this year's Manchester & Salford Ecumenical Whit Walk. To help cover the costs, a GoFundMe account has been set up. If you can donate to help to help ensure the Whit Walks continue then head to the GoFundMe here.
Recent Walks
If you would like to see our full album of photos from the Manchester and Salford Whit Walks, please visit our Flickr albums here:
History of the Walks
The Manchester and Salford Ecumenical Whit Walk is a cherished tradition that brings together communities across our region to share their faith, unity, and the joy of shared purpose. Rooted in the church’s history, the Whit Walks were originally established to provide children, especially those working long hours in the city’s mills, with a wholesome and uplifting way to spend their day off.
The first ever Whit Walk was held in 1801 and is said to have arisen due to a Sunday School movement that began in 1784. The movement's original goal was to offer children, who endured poor working conditions in factories during the week, a chance to celebrate their weekend freedom. To commemorate the anniversary of this movement, children would gather in St Anne's square and march through Market Square to attend church services. These processions became a significant tradition in Manchester, with events like the centenary processions in 1901 drawing large crowds of up to 40,000 people.
 |
 |
 |
Photo credits (above): John Davies - We Grew Up In Manchester Facebook
 |
 |
 |