THE sombre Good Friday service may have had its time, says a Hereford clergyman.

Maybe it's time for a Christian Carnival, with colourful costumes, balloons, banners and as much music as possible, says the Rev Graham Hellier, of the Hereford and Ross Methodist Circuit.

It would need a lot of enthusiasm, but it could be done.

"Suppose our churches joined in a kind of carnival, gathering in the Cathedral Close, moving to High Town and finishing at St Peter's?" he suggested.

"Choirs could be robed, monks and nuns in habits, Salvationists uniformed, and as many folk as possible adopting costumes of our older Christian traditions: Quakers, Puritans, friars, clergy high and low, plain Methodists and many more rubbing shoulders; Scouts, Guides, Boys' Brigades and similar groups could join the throng.

"We'd need as much music as possible: the great organ resounding through the cathedral doors, brass bands, guitars and drums, a jazz band and folk singers: why not?

"Songs could be sacred and secular. Why should the devil have all the best tunes? When the Saints Go Marching In, You'll Never Walk Alone, and whatever passers-by could sing along to. No need for a formal service. Maybe a sketch, some dancing, a holy fool.

"There should be something to share around: balloons, party biscuits. The atmosphere could be colourful and cheerful, informal and informative. Not so much in-your-face evangelism but an infectious sharing.

"It would need widespread support and thorough preparation. It would need vision. But practically, I don't see any problems. It's just an idea I'm floating, and it's just a case of whether the idea catches on.

"The Good Friday service has always been the tradition, and churches are slow to adopt changes. But we could replace the Good Friday outdoor witness with a Christian celebration at Pentecost.

"The sombre Good Friday event may have had its time. We can't take for granted that the onlookers have a working knowledge of what it's about, and they have little share in it. It's not so meaningful to those outside the churches.

"But Pentecost is suited to Churches Together, seeing that it celebrates the birth of the Christian Church. But more, it is both ideal for the insiders and could be attractive to outsiders.

"The key would be whether the Anglican Church would take it up."