We use them every year, and often take them for granted. But where do our Palm Crosses actually come from? Steph, one of our Deacons, explains this to us below:

As we approach Palm Sunday, I thought you might be interested to learn where our Palm Crosses come from. The African Palm project started in 1965 by Fr Alan Talbot in the Diocese of Masais in Tanzania. The aim being to give local villagers a chance to earn some extra money but still being able to carry out their farm work.

The Crosses are made from dried branches of the dwarf palm Hyphaene Coriacea which grows wild in the Masais area and are not cultivated or chemically treated. It also means that no trees are cut down for the process either.

I feel a new and special link with my Palm Cross and the walk that Jesus took on Palm Sunday knowing that my cross is just like the branches he would have walked on that day.

As we move into Holy Week and approach Easter Sunday, I hope you are able to enjoy the sun and I look forward to celebrating Easter together.

You can read more about the African Palm Project in our Palm Sunday post from a few years ago here.