Roland’s 40-year preach

A city preacher, who the police banned in 2019 from displaying a banner he had worn for more than 20 years bearing the words ‘The Blood of Jesus’ at Speakers’ Corner, has celebrated 40 years of open-air preaching in Kings Square, Gloucester.

More than 30 Christians involved in open-air ministry marked the anniversary of Roland Parsons’ (pictured) open-air work with a conference on 22 July at the city’s New Inn Hotel, followed by open-air preaching in three Gloucester locations. Three people made a commitment to Jesus and were given a Bible.

A big impact

For 36 out of 40 years, Parsons – commonly known as ‘the City Preacher’ – has preached up to five days each week through summer and winter and handed out around 1million gospel leaflets.