RIVER BLESSING CEREMONY AT TEDDINGTON

PHOTO SPECIAL ON RIVER BLESSING CEREMONY (Photos courtesy of RNLI and St Mary with St Alban Church)

The Vicar of St Mary with St Alban the Rev.David Cloake led the traditional blessing of the River Thames at the Manor Road Recreation ground today,

The ceremony gives the community the opportunity to give thanks to the importance of the river to the existence work and leisure of Teddington.

The event is supported by the RNLI and many other local river organisations and clubs.

The RNLI opened their lifeboat station too as part of the celebrations too, with teas and coffee.

The service began in St Mary with St Alban Church at 10am, for a shortened communion service, before the service moved to the Manor Gardens from 10:45 for the River Blessing and celebrations.

The service included the Sailor’s Psalm. 

THE BLESSING OF THE RIVER

A wooden cross is lowered into the river and congregation are invited to spread their flowers and any small boats as the blessing is given.

And the congregation were invited to join the Fisherman’s prayer.

Protect me oh Lord,

My boat is so small,

And your sea is so big.

THE RNLI PLEDGE – recited by all members of the RNLI who are present, led by volunteer helm, Tom Lee.

“Whoever we are, wherever we are from, we are one crew, ready to save lives.

We’re powered with passion, talent and kindness, like generations of selfless lifesavers before us.

This is our watch, we lead the way, valuing each other, trusting each other, depending on one another.

Volunteering to face the storm together, knowing that with courage nothing is impossible.

That is what has always driven us to save everyone we can. It’s what makes everyone of us a lifesaver.”

Although the ceremony has a historic feel it was only actually introduced in 2017.

The event was part of the Teddington800 celebrations, a 6-month programme of events put on by the community to celebrate the anniversary of the town being officially recorded as a parish,

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