18,000 marchers, many of them children, joined this ambitious Whit procession - an annual show of pride for Manchester's Catholic population. The procession lasted over two hours, with highlights captured by Mitchell and Kenyon's camera from several vantage points. Many of the children were from poorer families, and their splendid outfits would have needed much scrimping.

Source: BFI

Catholic procession in a Manchester street. (Synopsis) Procession of Catholics in Manchester 27th May 1904 (Synopsis) M&K 452: Replacement title (0.07). Crowd of people at base of Queen Victoria statue (0.19). Beginning of procession headed by mounted police, followed by a large banner, altar boys and marching band . Procession passes right to left past camera and watched by large crowd. The procession consists largely of children with adults in attendance (2.36mins). (Shotlist) M&K 453: Replacement title (0.06) Procession from right to left, close to camera with on looking crowd in background. Men carry banners. Well dressed women hold ribbons from banners and carry closed umbrellas. (0.32) Same procession, wider view. More banners, including a cross and a letter M, with girls in white dresses holding ribbons. (0.58) Back to original view. Clergy followed by girls ^[1] more umbrellas open and more small banners. (2.07) Women standing in a crowd under open umbrellas. (2.14) More girls followed by boys wearing white shirts with dark sashes and more boys in dark coats with white collars (2.53). (Shotlist) M&K 454: Replacement title (0.06) Procession from right to left with on looking crowd in background. Girls in white dresses and banners ^[2] Boys in black coats and white collars followed by boys in black and white striped shirts and white caps. Large banner and well dressed women follow ^[3] Girls are followed by a marching brass band then another large banner ^[4] girls wearing white dresses and veils and carrying lilies followed by men carrying a statue of Mary on a bed of flowers (2.43). (Shotlist) M&K 797: Replacement title (0.07). Procession passes left to right along cobbled, crowd-lined street. The parade consists of girls in white dresses led by a banner; a boys marching band followed by civic dignitaries (clergy?); a detachment of boys dressed alike with a banner (1.41). Men and clergy with banner followed up by girls in white dresses and girls in Sunday best; a boy's pipe band and a detachment of boys (2.32). A group of men marching with a banner followed by girls in white dresses and a marching band. Six adult altar boys with a banner and marching band. It is a very wet day. People have their umbrellas up and most of the children look sodden (3.08mins). (Shotlist)

Source: BFI