Easter Procession In Stepney

Thanks to more than sixty readers’ contributions we have already raised over £3,800 since we launched our crowdfund last Saturday.

Click here to learn about our crowdfund to publish this splendid book

Here are some contributor’s comments –

Hoping you make the target as I’d love to buy the book, the mosaics are just so wonderful. Good luck! X

– Alexandra

What a wonderful project! It’s sixty years since I left London to live in the Isle of Man, but I’m very happy to support the creation of these beautiful panels for Londoners to enjoy.

– Valerie

My Granddad lived on a narrowboat on the River Lee at Hackney for about 20 years then moved into the land as he got older and remained in Hackney until he passed away. I am sure he would have loved seeing this.

– Lee

I have admired the beautiful mosaics of Tessa Hunkin for several years now and am particularly happy that they will be recorded for posterity in one of The Gentle Author’s handsome books.

– Gilbert

Adding magic to the city. Thanks Tessa for all the craft and graft behind these magical creations !

– Oliver

These mosaics are beautiful. We’re happy to help.

– Dianne

Thank you for endeavouring to share the beauty of these mosaics with the world!

– Jennifer

Excellent idea and will make a beautiful book.

– Annie

Great project (actual mosaics and book)and look forward to the ‘Women at Work in the East End.’

– Rosie

This book will be a great testament to Tessa’s lovely work.

– Gilly

I’m so inspired by the mosaics I’ve seen. Will be in London next month and hope to visit more of them.

– Carol

I am delighted about this project and very much hope to read the book in due course.

– Sara

Delighted you are doing a book on these beautiful projects.

– Dorothy

Best wishes and luck with this wonderful project.

– Julia

It’s a privilege to be able to support Tessa’s work!

– John

Good luck with this most interesting project.

– Claire

Another beautiful book idea. Thank you.

-Anne

Delighted to support this wonderful project.

– Anne

Wish I could give more, but am only a poor widow woman whose roof is giving out! Tessa’s work is wonderful. Very exciting that it might be taken up in other places.

– Jenny

I love the mosaics done by Tessa’s team and can’t wait to see the book!

– Jill

Every time I visit my daughter in Hackney I pass by one of these marvellous murals. Beautifully designed and put together I can only imagine how inspirational they are for those who make them and who are able to see them every day. All power to the Gentle Author.

– Arabella

Such wonderful work, and such a great project!

– Vivienne

 What a wonderful idea to publish a book celebrating Tessa Hunkin’s Hackney Mosaic Project. These community mosaics are a wonderful life-enhancing addition to London life.

– Jenny

Click here to learn about our crowdfund to publish this splendid book

 

 

Every Easter, George & Dunstan, donkeys at Stepney City Farm enjoy an outing when they join the Parishioners of St Dunstan’s for the annual procession around the vicinity on Palm Sunday – and, one year, Contributing Photographer Colin O’Brien & I joined the enthusiastic throng on a cold and grey spring morning.

Walking down from Whitechapel, Colin & I followed Stepney Way, which was once a path across the fields used by worshippers when St Dunstan’s was the parish church for the whole of Tower Hamlets. St Dunstan founded it in 952 and it stands today as earliest surviving building after the Tower on this side of London.

At the old stone church, we discovered the wardens were eager to show us their ancient silver, a mace and a staff, with images of St Dunstan, the Tower and a Galleon referring to the days when this was the parish of seafarers. Once, all those who were born or died at sea were entered here in the parish register.

Curate Chris Morgan led off across the churchyard along the fine avenue of plane trees, swinging incense and followed by church wardens, sidesmen, George & Dunstan the donkeys, members of the parish and a solo trumpeter, with the Rector Trevor Critchlow bringing up the rear.

Anyone still nursing a hangover from Saturday night might have been astounded to be awoken by the sound of a heavenly host, and parted the curtains to discover this rag tag parade. Yet it was a serious commemoration of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem in which the streets of Stepney became transformed into the Via Sacra for a morning.

They marched through the empty terraced streets, past the large development site, turned left at the curry restaurant, passing the pizza takeaway and the beauty parlour, before turning left again at the youth centre to re-enter the churchyard. Then there was just time to pet the donkeys before they filed into the church to warm up again and begin Sunday morning prayers. And this was how Easter began in Stepney.

 

St Dunstan with his metalworkers’ tongs on top of the seventeenth century mace

A galleon upon an eighteenth century staff is a reminder St Dunstan’s was the parish of seafarers

Tower of London upon the reverse of the staff

Sidesmens’ batons from the era of George IV

Julian Cass, Sidesman

Jenny Ellwood, Sidesperson, and Sarah Smith, Parish Clerk

Trevor Critchlow, Rector of St Dunstan’s

Curate Chris Morgan leads the procession

Photographs copyright ©  Estate of Colin O’Brien

You may also like to read about

Nativity Procession In Spitalfields

Vera Hullyer At St Dunstan’s

Easter Flowers At St Dunstan’s

At St Dunstan’s Harvest Festival

A Stepney Remembrance