You would think, wouldn't you, that a ceremony like the blessing of the River Thames would be practically as old as Christianity in England? In fact, this ceremony is only about 18 years old! Each year, the clergy and congregations of Southwark Cathedral and St Magnus the Martyr meet in the middle of London Bridge and hold a short service and throw a wooden cross into the river.
This year, I went, too. I had been preaching at Stockwell, so it was easy to walk up to Stockwell Tube Station and catch a Northern Line train to London Bridge. It was less easy, though, to find the entrance to the Cathedral - you can't go down the steps from London Bridge any longer, but have to walk all the way through Borough Market and right round the back. In fact there is a set of steps up to the bridge from that side, which are very steep (but I managed them almost without stopping, which pleased me). I got into the Cathedral just in time for the last hymn of their service, and watched the clergy process out, followed by the choir, with the choirboys remembering when to turn, and doing so, rather enchantingly, with military precision.
There was still awhile to wait before the service, but I went up to the bridge (as I said, not really having to stop going up all the steps, but I did have to stop when I got to the top and get my breath back), enjoying the view over St Paul's Cathedral in one direction
and London Bridge in the other. I realised the service would probably be on the downstream side of the bridge, otherwise everybody would rush across playing Poohsticks once the cross had been thrown in.
12:30 came and went, and I was getting cold, but eventually the clergy procession from Southwark turned up, as did a great many other people, and eventually the contingent from St Magnus the Martyr arrived and the service began. .
It wasn't just about blessing the actual river, although that was part of it, but all who make their living on and from it, and those who die in it, whether by accident on or purpose, and their families, and so on. It was quite difficult to hear what was going on, what with the crowd, and not everybody was good at holding the microphone near their mouths. I was fortunate to be able to follow the liturgy over someone's shoulder (thank you, whoever you were).
And the cross was duly thrown into the water ("when," said the rubric, "it is safe to do so" - they don't want it hitting an Uber boat on the way down!), and the service ended with a blessing.
It is really completely bonkers, but really rather lovely, and it was great to see so many people not only watching, but joining in.
"There is a river that makes glad the City of God."
