The Church of England has today released its film marking Easter 2016 and it features people in Calderdale who have struggled with drug addiction, crime and homelessness.

The film is based on Psalm 22 and contains the lines “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?”, words spoken by Jesus on the Cross.

The striking imagery in the film includes a re-enactment of a passion play with Christ’s Crown of Thorns being replaced with a crown of syringes to reflect the struggles of addiction faced by those who have recently come to faith in a church called “The Saturday Gathering”.

The film follows on from The Lord’s Prayer advert launched by the Church last Christmas which was banned by cinemas for its religious content.

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The stars are unlikely pin-ups each of whom tell their inspirational stories on the JustPray.uk website and have featured in teaser adverts for the film over the past four weeks.

They include Emma, 24, who has had problems with drugs, alcohol, and self-harming; Rob, who has lived on the streets or on his wits since a young boy; 40 year old Howard, a former addict who has been in and out of prison; and Brenda, who was the local white witch, heavily into the Wicca movement and its alignment with nature, conservation and the environment.

The Rev Arun Arora, Director of Communications for the Church of England, said:“Our brief to the filmmaker was to reflect the doubt and forsakenness that life throws at you and to track the journey from grim reality and to bleed into the colour of joy. We are delighted with the result which reflects the journey into joy.”

A telling image from the Church of England film shot in Calderdale