DOZENS of Christians came together as Roland Parsons celebrated 40 years of open air preaching. 

On Saturday, July 22, over 30 Christians, celebrated the 40 years anniversary of when Roland Parsons, also known as the City preacher, began his 'Open Air Preaching' in the Kings Square, Gloucester.

Roland lives in Adam and Eve House in Paradise near Painswick. 

This 'Open Air Preaching' celebration began at 12 noon with a conference in the Regency Suite of the New Inn Hotel, which is in the centre of the City close to Gloucester Cross.

Each of the seven speakers at the conference explained 'Open Air Preaching' or 'Gospel Tract Giving'.

Then at 3.30pm, 24 'Open Air Ministers joined together to do 'Open Air Ministry' at Gloucester Cross, then in Eastgate Street and then in the Kings Square, Gloucester.

The rain had stopped for the 'Open Air Outreach'.

In response to the message three individuals were each given a new King James Bible to study.

26 of those attending the celebration then had a sit down 'Fellowship Meal' back at the New Inn Hotel.

For 36 years of his 40 years of 'Open Air Preaching' in Gloucester, Roland has preached every week summer and winter two to five days per week.

Together with many other Christians Roland and his wife Frances have given away free approximately 1 million Gospel leaflets.

Roland, with others, ran a 'Homeless and Down and outs Ministry' for 10 years in Gloucester before the Gloucester City Mission took on that effort.

For 36 years Rev. Parsons co-ordinated the annual Bible preachers entry in the Gloucester Carnival procession

Roland Parsons, commonly known as the 'City Preacher', began the conference on Saturday by explaining that for 40 years the 'Open Air Ministry' has been centred on the words of the Bible.

He told the Christians present: "We go out and open the Bible.

"What the Bible says is proclaimed and explained, to anyone in the City Centre who happens to be there.

"Some sit on the benches listening.

"Some stand back against the shop fronts.

"I have preached through every verse of the New Testament, doing my best to give an explanation of its in context meaning. And in accordance with the whole New and Old Testaments scriptural teaching.

"I am now preaching through each verse of the Book of Revelation for the second time.

"The Lord sent us to preach among millions of 'Ordinary Folk', primarily in Gloucester but notably Leicester Square, the Notting Hill Carnival and Speakers Corner in Hyde Park, London."