Comments on: At The Blessing Of The River https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/01/05/at-the-blessing-of-the-river-x/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Sat, 18 Nov 2023 00:46:25 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Tom https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/01/05/at-the-blessing-of-the-river-x/#comment-1528191 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 00:46:25 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=194437#comment-1528191 This is totally absurd and pagan. What is the connection with this and God or any church in the U.K….reminds me more of the sacrifice given in the King Kong movie…

]]> By: Marcia Howard https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/01/05/at-the-blessing-of-the-river-x/#comment-1497659 Sat, 07 Jan 2023 08:43:19 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=194437#comment-1497659 I’ve spent the biggest part of my life living within walking distance of the Thames, and I’ve never seen, or heard of, this ceremony. I must have been walking around in a daze for decades…

]]> By: Bailey Jones https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/01/05/at-the-blessing-of-the-river-x/#comment-1497570 Fri, 06 Jan 2023 11:22:42 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=194437#comment-1497570 GA. Re: the last picture. OMG! Indeed it does! Yesterday, I had wondered why it was ‘off centre’, without realising why. Too busy focusing on just one issue – the lack of women. (Eventually I did spot one black woman – possibly a priest – and one white woman, obscured by heads and a banner. Not exactly centre stage.)
To be fair to the church, there is diversity within it, and several inner city congregations do assist the homeless but this set of photos by the late great Colin O’Brien reveal striking social and historical insight into status and privledge.

Thank you for sharing.

]]> By: the gentle author https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/01/05/at-the-blessing-of-the-river-x/#comment-1497507 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 19:21:07 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=194437#comment-1497507 I think Colin O’Brien’s final photograph speaks eloquently

]]> By: Saba https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/01/05/at-the-blessing-of-the-river-x/#comment-1497501 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 18:22:06 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=194437#comment-1497501 More reflection on the pictures — Somehow, no one looks to me as if they take the event too seriously. This made me think about the past when work on the river was more central to many more lives. The weather and the danger of some of the jobs must have spawned unfortunate events in many households, causing parishioners to pray fervently for safety. Did more people attend the churches in the past and believe that this procession might offer safety? I don’t know, and I have seen studies with conflicting assertions for church attendance and belief in the United States. Anyway, fascinating pictures as I approach them while asking questions.

]]> By: Saba https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/01/05/at-the-blessing-of-the-river-x/#comment-1497499 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 18:09:40 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=194437#comment-1497499 The Brits really know how to do pageantry; it never fails to be glorious. All men, mostly white. I welcome them but hope that, in the future, a gender- and race-diverse group will lead the pageant.

]]> By: Bailey Jones https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/01/05/at-the-blessing-of-the-river-x/#comment-1497452 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 10:04:47 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=194437#comment-1497452 Fascinating stuff. It is great to see these old traditions kept alive. Hopefully, there will be more female clergy in attendance this year to showcase the modernity of the Anglican Church alongside this ancient and sacred observance of London’s special relationship with its noble river

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