This film is part of Free

Annual Whit-Monday Procession
An awe-inspiring spectacle: thousands of young churchgoers throng the streets of Manchester for the annual Whit holiday.
Overview
The Manchester 'Whit Walks' were a newsreel favourite, and this film from 1927 shows why. The awe-inspiring procession drew churchgoers across the north west and beyond, overwhelming the city centre and flooding the cobbled streets with angelic children, pristine in their purpose-bought white frocks and sailor suits. The entrance to the famous Lewis's Arcade is visible in the final shot.
The walks, celebrating the Sunday School movement, have been taking place in Manchester since around 1800 and were originally associated with Whitsun, an annual holiday for mill-workers which fell seven weeks after Easter. Today the walk is usually scheduled for the late bank holiday in May.
Related

Manchester's Welcome to the Imperial Yeomanry (1901) Manchester's Welcome to the Imperial Yeomanry (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 4 mins Silent Location: Manchester
A volunteer cavalry regiment is enthusiastically welcomed home after active service in South Africa.

Shuttered Windows Shuttered Windows
Charity appeal 1934 8 mins Location: Southport
Windows of opportunity: how a charity aimed to improve the lives of blind and partially sighted people.

Education of the Deaf Education of the Deaf
Documentary 1946 51 mins Location: Manchester
A brisk look at the tests and education practices for deaf people in 1940s

Heaven Opens Heaven Opens
Amateur film 1968 29 mins Location: Manchester
Faith in the inner city - the mission of the Sharon Full Gospel Church in Manchester.

Manchester Tickled Pink Manchester Tickled Pink
Amateur film 1993 2 mins Silent Location: Manchester
Manchester is 'Tickled Pink' with this annual celebration of LGBT life.

Apprentice Training Apprentice Training
Promotional 1958 13 mins Location: Manchester
Earning and learning, as an apprentice begins his working life.

New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Bell of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.

Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.

On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.

Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.

All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.

Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.